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Pawnee County, and the entire Midwest, is experiencing record numbers of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. The county currently has 495 positive patients and continues to increase each week per the KDHE tracking website.

The health system encourages everyone to take the pillars of infection prevention and control with you always.

*wear masks that cover your nose and mouth when in public
*consider eye protection, especially when flying
*maintain a six-foot distance with those outside your immediate household
*wash and/or sanitize your hands thoroughly and often
*avoid gatherings where social distancing is not possible.
*Stay home if you are ill
*Do not let down your guard!

Not following these rules will put you at greater risk of contracting and spreading the virus.

“We support our public health officials and the recommendations they are proposing on what they believe will help bend the curve and keep our patents and community safe.” states Melanie Urban, administrator of Pawnee Valley Campus. “This is a critical time and we need everyone in Pawnee County, and surrounding areas, to take this seriously.”

Urban continued, “We know this feels like a marathon with no end in sight, but new antibody therapies are days away and there is hope that promising vaccines are but months away. Please do everything in your power to help slow the spread of the virus.”

FAQs

 What does this mean for the hospital, the community and the region in general?   The number of beds currently being used for COVID-19 related care has spiked exponentially here and across the Midwest creating a high demand for patient beds. This, during a traditionally busier time of year as people move indoors and other seasonal respiratory viruses are more common.

How close are you to meeting that capacity? Capacity at Pawnee Valley Campus is an ever-changing variable. There are days when we are near capacity. This has happened even when we were not in the COVID-19 pandemic but lately it is happening more frequently due to the additional COVID-19 patients.

Does the Emergency Room ever close? No. Even on the rare occasions when we are near capacity our emergency room remains open to all those who need emergency care.  However, if beds and staffing cannot permit us to admit you, we will work to find another hospital with capacity which may mean receiving care in another city, county or state.

How is COVID-19 impacting transfers?  If we are at capacity or have patients with critical conditions, it is necessary to transfer these patients to another hospital. It is increasingly difficult to find a hospital that can accept a patient because they, too, are experiencing high census due to COVID.  This can affect COVID-19 patients as well as other medical needs including heart attack, stroke, or trauma. Such needs to transfer delays medical care and potentially sends patients far away from home.

What measures are in place should the hospital reach patient capacity? Our health system hospitals manage patient flow every day and have emergency plans for handling a surge in patients whether from trauma or in this case … a pandemic. However, COVID-19 has forced the hospital to take more critical measures including but not limited to:

*Restricting visitors to decrease the spread of COVID-19
*Manage PPE and medical supplies needed to care for COVID-19 patients
*Keep constant contact with the Pawnee County Health Department, The University of Kansas Health System, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas Hospital Association to monitor the situation.

Is it safe to come to Pawnee Valley Campus?  YES.  Hospitals and clinics are currently considered the safest place in every community during this pandemic as the pillars of infection prevention and control are strictly followed and enforced. Telehealth is also a recommended option for healthcare during this pandemic when a conversation with your provider meets your needs.  While your experience visiting our facilities to receive care or support a loved one may look and feel a bit different, be assured that what is not different is our commitment to your health and safety, and that of your loved ones.

What can the public do to help this situation? As the number of COVID-19 patients at Pawnee Valley Campus and across the Midwest rise exponentially, it is critical for us to work together to slow the virus spread to avoid overwhelming hospitals and healthcare workers.

Help keep everyone safe:

*wear masks that cover your nose and mouth when in public
*consider eye protection, especially when flying
*maintain a six-foot distance with those outside your immediate household
*wash and/or sanitize your hands thoroughly and often
*avoid gatherings where social distancing is not possible.
*Stay home if you are ill
*Do not let down your guard!

We recognize people are weary of the pandemic and this includes healthcare workers. Pawnee Valley Campus and the entire health system is committed to doing whatever it takes to protect your health and well-being and you play a critical part in our ability to provide that care.

Can I assess my risk for attending a group gathering? Yes. Have a plan and ask questions.  Know how many people will attend and assume that everyone you meet may carry the SARS-CoV-2 virus.  Take the pillars of infection prevention and control with you.  The COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool is interactive and shows the current virus spread across the U.S.   https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/?fbclid=IwAR168Jpexddvg_gS4JjiX810qsjvwxhEQmOIUu37hCIkbIX7y8J84HqnXHI

Helpful Links:

Link to the KDHE’s COVID-19 Microsite. https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/

Link to the Pawnee County Health Department that has the latest COVID-19 information for Pawnee County. https://www.pawneecountykansas.com/158/Health-Department

Link to the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html