Union City, Tenn.–To protect patients and employees and help prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City (BMH-UC) postponed elective procedures about two months ago. BMH-UC now suggests that patients talk with their physicians about rescheduling the procedures. The hospital has developed a plan to ensure patients are as safe and protected as possible while in the hospital. The following steps are being taken by the staff:
- Testing every admitted patient for COVID-19.
- Adhering to aggressive hand hygiene practices.
- Wearing masks.
- Respecting social distancing in public areas.
- Regularly assessing staff and patients to identify anyone with a fever, COVID-19 symptoms or COVID-19 exposure.
- Offering virtual visits (e-visits and video visits) with our physicians.
- Limiting visitors.
- Creating special treatment areas specifically for non-COVID patients.
According to Skipper Bondurant, administrator and CEO at Baptist Union City, “We believe it’s time for patients to start scheduling the procedures and surgeries we asked them to postpone a couple of months ago for several reasons. Elective surgeries vary widely, and some can become more urgent if patients wait too long to have them. The longer some procedures are delayed, the more it can potentially compromise the patients’ health. People need to get mammograms and other diagnostic tests that can diagnose serious medical conditions. At the same time, COVID-19 has made it necessary for us to change the way our facilities operate.”
Bondurant continued, “We are doing everything we can to help contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. As the situation evolves, we will update our guidelines and policies to protect the health of our community. We encourage everyone to visit our website at baptistonline.org for resources and regular updates on how we’re protecting patients and employees.”
Anyone with concerns about visiting Baptist Memorial Hospital can call 866-941-4785.