DuBois, PA – Hospitals remain cautious but have been able to return to providing more elective procedures.
Dr. Shaun Sheehan, the COVID-19 task force leader at Penn Highlands Healthcare, says most of the coronavirus-dedicated units at the hospitals have been switched back to their original intended uses.
However, officials say they would be able to quickly switch back to COVID-19 units if the virus becomes an issue in our area.
Mark Norman, Penn Highlands Chief Operations Officer, says many hospital workers will eventually be returning to work as more elective procedure appointments are made. Many furloughed employees are being brought back to work.
However, COVID-19 safety precautions are still in place at the hospital.
In addition, they would like to clarify that Penn Highlands is allowing one support person per non-COVID-19 patient. This must be the same support person for the entire length of stay. This is not a casual visitor, and only one person can fill this role.
The chemo infusion room will not allow a support person to accompany any person receiving an infusion, due to increased risk for cancer patients with weakened immune systems.
Listen to the full press conference audio with Mark Norman and Dr. Shaun Sheehan.
At this time, although they have an adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks and gowns, they are still accepting donations of useful medical supplies and PPE.
One of the most useful ways to help is to donate blood through the Community Blood Bank.
To make things easier and safer, you are asked to pre-register for any blood donation drive that you are attending.
Community Blood Bank drives: FourHearts.org
There is a desperate need for blood drives to continue. Even during the coronavirus pandemic, people will still need life-saving blood, platelets, and plasma… for things like surgeries, blood loss from accidents and other emergencies, or maintaining health during cancer treatments.
One of the most important things you can do to ensure we don’t have another health care crisis on top of coronavirus is to give now.
Giving blood is considered an essential community service. As part of our nation’s critical infrastructure, healthy individuals can still donate in areas that have issued shelter in place declarations.
Donating is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood or platelets. Both the Red Cross and Community Blood Bank have implemented additional precautions to ensure safety of donors and staff.
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Anyone entering the building should wear a mask.
NOTE: All Penn Highlands Healthcare inpatient and outpatient services continue to be fully operational.
In an effort to protect our patients, providers and community amidst the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Penn Highlands Healthcare is restricting visitation at all of our hospitals (Penn Highlands Brookville, Penn Highlands Clearfield, Penn Highlands DuBois West – main campus, Penn Highlands DuBois East – behavioral health campus, Penn Highlands Elk and Penn Highlands Huntingdon).
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: NO VISITORS ARE PERMITTED AT PENN HIGHLANDS HOSPITALS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!*
*The following visitor exceptions apply:
SURGERY: No visitors allowed. Registration staff will collect a family member’s or significant other’s phone number so surgical staff can call with updates about the patient. Family members may wait in their vehicle in the hospital parking lot or at an off-site location of their choice. Minors having surgery may be accompanied by one parent.
CANCER CENTERS: If you are the companion of a patient who is receiving cancer treatment, you will be asked to wait in your vehicle until the completion of the patient’s treatment. However, if an oncology patient is severely ill or being seen for a new diagnosis, we will make case-by-case decisions on whether we can allow the companion into the Cancer Center to assist the patient. To be granted entry, every companion must comply to a screening and temperature check, and will need to wear a mask.
NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU): Only the baby’s mother and significant other/co-caregiver may enter the NICU. Only one visitor at a time, mother or significant other/co-caregiver may visit individually. Exceptions are end of life care and discharge.
MATERNITY: Mothers having a baby may be accompanied by one companion.
PEDIATRIC UNIT: Children may be accompanied by one parent/guardian.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT: If you are seeking emergency care, one companion may accompany you, if needed, during the visit. The hospital ER may ask you to wait in your vehicle in the hospital parking lot or at an off-site location of your choice if your loved one doesn’t require your presence. In this case we will obtain your companion’s phone number to contact them when your emergency department visit is completed. In the circumstance of a minor, child or senior citizen, the companion may stay.
OUTPATIENT SERVICES: One companion is permitted, if the patient needs assistance.
END OF LIFE CARE: Visitors may be permitted.
NURSING HOME/SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES: Penn Highlands Jefferson Manor and Penn Highlands Elk Pinecrest Manor are restricting all visitors. (End of Life Care: Visitors may be permitted)
PH DuBois Health Information Management: To protect our patients and staff, all requests for copies of medical records for Penn Highlands DuBois should be completed over the telephone. Please call our contracted vendor, Star Med, Inc., at 814-375-3485 and they will be able to assist you.
