Community Hospital resuming elective surgeries May 18

McCOOK, Neb. -- Community Hospital is resuming elective surgical services on Monday, May 18, according to hospital officials.

Patients with upcoming surgeries will be expected to self-isolate for two weeks prior to their scheduled procedures. They will also be asked to keep a log of their temperatures, any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and will be given guidelines to follow for social distancing prior to surgery. On the day of their surgery, they will also be screened upon arrival.

Community Hospital physicians and surgeons will be operating at 50% of their normal case load as the elective surgeries start up. Supplies, medications, staffing and other resources will continue to be monitored to support both the pandemic and elective needs with the understanding that the decision could change at any time based on the rate of new COVID-19 cases in the area.

Julie Wilhelmson, Director of Emergency and Outpatient Services and Melissa Proud, ED Coordinator stand near the new temporary exam areas recently added for COVID-19 suspected patients in Community Hospital’s climate controlled emergency room garage.

Community Hospital photo

Emergency Department Physical Changes

Community Hospital maintenance staff could be considered heroes in the long list of essential and frontline workers facing the COVID-19 threat. In recent days, they have converted several patient wing rooms to negative air pressure to aid in caring for potential COVID-19 patients, as well as helping provide a safe environment for non-COVID patients and staff.

For the safety of all patients, the hospital has worked to create separate care areas for suspected and non-suspected COVID-19 patients in the emergency department. To take advantage of the excellent air flow exchange in the ambulance garage, the maintenance department added a walk-in door to the garage to allow direct access from the outside. A check-in desk was added near this new entrance and temporary barriers were erected to ensure patient privacy in the climate controlled area.

Pictured with medical supplies ready to be distributed are Community Hospital staff from left, Ethen Scott, Community Supply Needs Coordinator; Lori Beeby, Vice President Support Services; Scott Leach, Materials Management; and Tierney Reilly, Materials Management Director.

Community Hospital photo

Community Supply Needs

Mission accomplished. The Community Supply Needs project undertaken by Community Hospital provided medical supplies to 44 healthcare partners in the area and is coming to a close. Ethen Scott, Community Supply Needs Coordinator played the role of matchmaker, finding excess supplies from businesses and industries to donate to healthcare partners such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, EMS, public service, hospitals and physician clinics. More than 300 businesses were called to request supplies in seven southwest Nebraska counties and four Kansas counties. Ethen traveled multiple miles to pick up excess supplies as well. Surveys were mailed to healthcare partners in the same geological area to determine needs.

Supplies donated and distributed included: N-95, LPR-100, surgical and cloth face masks, latex and vinyl gloves, face shields, safety goggles and glasses, bouffant hair covers, Tyvek suits, boot and shoe covers, sanitizing wipes and spray, bleach, hand sanitizer and disposable towels for making wipes.

McCook Evangelical Free Church provided space to collect and distribute the supplies over a several-week period.

Hand Sanitizer Available

Community Hospital has a surplus of donated hand sanitizer available while supplies last. Examples of groups which might be interested could be daycares or churches. Please call Lori Beeby, Community Hospital Vice President Support Services at 308-344-8325 for more information. You must bring your own container(s) to be filled.

Non-Medical Reusable Masks

Community Hospital continues to accept donations of homemade cloth masks. Call Tricia Wagner at 308-344-8550 or Candy Crosby at 308-344-8340 for questions. Masks can be dropped off at Community Hospital by simply parking in the front parking lot and calling 308-344-2650. Someone will come out and pick them up.

Incident Command

Community Hospital meets as an incident command planning team twice a week with multiple sub teams also meeting numerous times throughout the week. Selected Community Hospital Incident Command Officers also meet weekly with city and county Incident Officers in a Joint Incident Command (JIC).

Important Public Messages

• Call before coming to any medical facility to seek treatment if you are exhibiting these symptoms: A fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, shortness of breath, or a cough.

• Go to the CDC website for accurate information: www.cdc.gov

• If you have questions about COVID-19 and your health, call Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department at 308-345-4223, DHHS COVID-19 Information Line 402-552-6645, or go to www.cdc.gov.