December 16, 2020
Albia, IA – Monroe County Hospital & Clinics (MCHC) remains steadfast in our commitment to safety as a core value and we are working diligently to protect our colleagues and communities from exposure to COVID-19. We are following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health authority guidance to ensure that our clinical and community care is consistent with the latest recommendations and research.
Effective Thursday, December 17, 2020, MCHC will begin to relax its visitor restrictions. Each patient visiting MCHC will be allowed ONE (1) visitor, per patient, per day.
All visitors must follow these guidelines:
- Must pass screening guidelines at designated entrances.
- Are required to wear a face mask while in the building, regardless of symptoms. A face covering (cloth or procedure type) must be worn over the mouth and nose following CDC recommendations. Use of Masks to Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19
- Must be 16 years of age or older. Exceptions may be permitted in case of a patient imminently dying.
- Perform frequent hand hygiene (wash hands with soap and water frequently; use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when washing hands is not an option).
- The visitor should go directly to the patient’s room and leave directly from the patient’s room after visitation is complete. The visitor will be prohibited from going to other areas of the hospital & clinics including the cafeteria, gift shop, etc.
- All visitors will be directed to refrain from physical contact or touching items at the bedside due to the potential of transmission of the virus in either direction.
- The cafeteria and gift shop remain closed at this time.
- Dietary service is available to visitors visiting patients. Service will be delivered directly to patient room.
Sick or At-Risk Persons Accompanying Patients Are Not Permitted
No person is allowed to accompany the patient if they have symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea) or other risk factors (travel to endemic area, exposure to confirmed COVID-19 person(s) in past 14 days, pregnant, other).
As a reminder, we encourage the community to follow the best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent the spread of all viruses:
- Wear a face mask
- Staying home if you are sick
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
- Covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze
- Thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Disinfecting surfaces and objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
At MCHC, we are following guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Iowa Public Health Department to screen patients for symptoms including fever and respiratory signs.
For individuals who have symptoms of illness, particularly with fever and cough or shortness of breath, your provider can assess whether you need to be seen in the office or if you can recover at home. If you think you need healthcare, call first.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/ and follow the department on Facebook at @IowaDepartmentOfPublicHealth and on Twitter at @IAPublicHealth.
About Monroe County Hospital & Clinics
Established in 1951, Monroe County Hospital & Clinics (MCHC) is a trusted provider of high quality, local health care to the residents of Monroe County, IA and surrounding counties. Our highest mission is a promise to create an excellent health care experience. We believe it must be our number one priority to ensure the personal safety and security of each customer and employee. Our full-service, primary care hospital offers an array of inpatient and outpatient health services including surgical, clinical, specialty, physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, occupational therapy, emergency, sleep studies, pain management services and much more. Visit mchalbia.com for more information.