FMCH reopens some services this week

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The following is a release from Fort Madison Community Hospital printed in its entirety.

FORT MADISON - Fort Madison Community Hospital began to re-open some of their service lines this week at 50% of the normal capacity.

Many of these services were reduced to emergent or diagnostic needs when precautionary measures were implemented for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Service lines increasing capacity at this time include:
• Radiology preventive and diagnostic testing - including CT, MRI, Mammography, Ultrasound, Bone Densitometry, and Nuclear Medicine.
• Cardiopulmonary including stress tests and EEG’s. PFT’s and cardiac/pulmonary rehab will not resume at this time, as these are high-risk tests and/or patients.
• Outpatient rehabilitation services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. The aquatic therapy pool will not be reopening at this time.
• FMCH Clinics – in addition to continuing to offer Telehealth visits, in-person visits will be increased in the following specialties: Orthopedics, The Women’s Center, Family Practice/Internal Medicine, and General Surgery. Other clinics, Podiatry, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, MyCare Walk-in Clinic and the Respiratory Center will continue at their current level of care.
• Elective surgeries and procedures began at FMCH starting the week of May 11, 2020. FMCH will evaluate all surgeries and procedures for risk potential making sure the well-being of the patient and the conservation of personal protective equipment (PPE) is in place. All patients will be required to be tested for COVID-19 and sign a special consent prior to their surgery or procedure. The safety of the patient remains the top priority.

Patients are encouraged to contact their provider’s office for assistance in determining if an in-person or telehealth visit is most appropriate for them at this time. FMCH adheres strictly to an intense cleaning routine between patients on all equipment and rooms.

All patients will continue to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon entering the FMCH facility. They will also be asked to wear a mask, and practice social distancing while on campus. 

The following entrances are open at FMCH:
• Main Clinic Entrance: 6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., M-F; 7:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Saturday
• Emergency Department Patient Entrance- 24 hour access/ 7 days a week
• Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Center Entrance: 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Patients only.

“We are anxious to be able to provide the level of health care services to our community we did prior to the onset of COVID-19 planning. We want to make sure we do it in a cautious and logical way, protecting the quality of care our patients deserve,” expressed Shelby Burchett, CEO, FMCH. “Our employees’ safety is also a driving factor in the decisions we continue to make as we move forward in this uncertain time.”

Visitor Restrictions are still in effect at FMCH and are as follows:
• No Visitors will be allowed on our Medical/Surgical or Special Care Units. Patients who are at the end of life where death is imminent may have two visitors.
• Patients under the age of 18 may have one parent or guardian visit.
FMCH Birthplace patients- only the mother’s designated support person is allowed- must be the same identified person for the duration of the stay.
• Patients with an appointment in the FMCH Clinics, laboratory, outpatient rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary or radiology areas should be unaccompanied. Patients requiring special assistance may have one visitor or guardian.
• Emergency Room patients will not be allowed to have anyone in the treatment room with them. Pediatric patients may have one parent or guardian in the treatment room with them. The Emergency Department allow additional visitors based on clinical patient situation
• We strongly recommend all additional support people wait in the car rather than the waiting area for their safety and ours.

The leadership team at FMCH, in coordination with Great River Health, will monitor developments of the COVID-19 situation in Southeast Iowa, making adjustments as needed to the services offered.

Coronavirus, COVID-19, FMCH, Fort Madison Community Hospital, increased lines, Pen City Current, services

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