Warren Memorial Hospital expanding testing for COVID-19

Due to an increase in the number of patients and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, Valley Health Warren Memorial Hospital (WMH) is expanding testing to include hospital staff members whose work duties may have placed them at a higher risk of possible exposure and patients currently receiving inpatient care in the hospital.

On October 8, 2020, WMH began testing patient care providers on the Medical/Surgical Unit and Intensive Care Unit, as well as the staff who provide support to these areas. In an abundance of caution, the hospital is also testing all current patients as well as those who are newly admitted. The adjacent 120-bed Lynn Care Center is continuing regular testing of residents and staff and is following all recommended procedures for limiting the spread of infection.

“We have been extremely vigilant and are singularly focused on protecting the safety and well-being of our patients and staff,” said WMH President Floyd Heater. “We are working with local and state health officials and our Valley Health partners to ensure we are taking all appropriate steps to safeguard hospital patients, long-term care residents, and staff from exposure.”

As reported on September 25, Warren Memorial has suspended visits by family and care partners, with exceptions only for special circumstances on a case-by-case basis, additionally, visits by healthcare professions students completing clinical rotations at WMH have been suspended.

Since March, both the hospital and Lynn Care Center have followed guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to safeguard staff and residents from COVID-19, including:

• Enhanced infection control precautions including preadmission COVID-19 testing and 14-day quarantine for all new admissions;

• Screening patients, residents, staff, and essential visitors for an expanded list of symptoms;

• Restricting visitation and entry of people to the building;

• Requiring universal facemask wearing for all staff;

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as, fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, or think you may have been exposed, please contact your healthcare provider, visit a Valley Health Urgent Care Center or call Valley Health’s Respiratory Care Line at 540-536-0380.