The HRRMC entrance sign announcing tent screenings for people with respiratory symptoms.
Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center announced additional restrictions as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, taking effect immediately.
Allison Gergley, Marketing and Public Relations Director said based on the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all elective surgeries at the hospital are postponed until further notice. Urgent and emergent surgeries and emergent pain procedures will continue to be performed. The hospital has begun notifying patients scheduled for elective surgeries of the change.
In addition, only two public entrances will remain open on the hospital main campus at 1000 Rush Drive. Patients and visitors may enter either through the main hospital entrance or through the entrance to the Outpatient Pavilion adjacent to the retail pharmacy.
Patients today (March 17) were already being greeted by medical staff as they entered and asked about their health status before they went on to registration areas and were seen by medical staff in the respective clinics.
Elsewhere, the hospital gift shop is closed, and the hospital cafe is no longer open to visitors.
The Dietary Department continues to provide meals to inpatients and staff, Gergley stated.
The volunteer Therapy Dog program has also been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 precautions, Gergley stated.
- These changes are in addition to the visitor restrictions that went into effect on March 13. No visitors are allowed in the inpatient units of the hospital, with the following exceptions:
Family Birthing Center, Infusion, Dialysis, Oncology: One symptom-free visitor per patient. Visitor must pass a clinical screening. - Emergency Department: No visitors, with the exception of one symptom-free guardian per minor (under the age of 18).
Earlier the hospital announced that an unidentified employee who was tested for the coronavirus had results come back negative, according to Chaffee County Public Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
As the hospital monitors the ever-changing situation, it has already established a testing tent near the Emergency Department of the Hospital as well as at the Buena Vista Health Center in order to triage patients presenting respiratory symptoms. Patients are tested when appropriate, after medical screening. Vehicle triaging was being continued at all other locations with the situation assessed on a daily basis.
Weld County health officials said Tuesday a man in his 70s was the second reported virus fatality.
The latest figures from the CDPHE reported 23 new confirmed cases Tuesday, bringing the total number of positive test results to 183 in Colorado, with at least 20 people hospitalized.
The number is going up by the hour, with data available at https://covid19.colorado.gov/data . Some mountain communities have seen more serious community spread of the virus, officials said.
Health and government officials are working rapidly to limit the spread of the disease and try to ‘flatten the curve’ of infections through testing and enacting more severe social distancing regulation. These include the ordered closing by Governor Jared Polis of bars and restaurants for dine-in service for at least the next 30 days, while take-out and delivery are allowed, and the shutting of casinos, theaters and other large-capacity facilities.
Thus far, no confirmed cases have been reported in Chaffee County.
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