La Follette Medical Center announces phased reopening of non-essential services

LAFOLLETTE, TN (April 29, 2020 – WLAF) –  As healthcare organizations continually monitor the impact of COVID-19 on our region, La Follette Medical Center is working to have a phased, responsible restart of procedures and services that have been temporarily closed over the past several weeks. The temporary closure affected non-essential procedures, diagnostics, and outpatient services.

Factors that support reopening these services include: 1) effectively flattening the curve through social distancing, 2) improved COVID-19 testing, 3) aggressive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) stewardship by healthcare organizations, and 4) a relatively low rate of COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths in our area. Reopening non-essential services will allow hospitals to provide care for those needing diagnostic and surgical procedures while continuing safe care for all patients.

• Beginning Monday, April 27, area hospitals resumed some outpatient diagnostic and clinical services (examples: mammography, etc.).

• On Monday, May 4, La Follette Medical Center expects to resume performing non-essential surgeries and procedures in a phased manner.

• The phase-in of services will continue to expand during the next month, with a focus on stringent measures to protect patients, staff and providers from COVID-19.

These specific procedures related to preventing the spread of COVID-19 will continue to be observed:

• All patients will be asked specific health screening questions related to symptoms of and possibility of exposure to COVID-19. Patients may be tested for COVID-19 depending on the patient’s overall health status and clinical guidelines for the procedure or care they are receiving.

• All social distancing guidelines will remain in place.

• Hospital visitation policies will only allow visitors who are determined to be vital to the care of the patient. Other outpatient services may not allow visitors.

• All visitors should wear a face covering at all times and will be screened prior to facility entry.

• La Follette Medical Center will monitor supplies of PPE and adjust procedure schedules if needed to preserve resources in case of a community surge in COVID-19.

• La Follette Medical Center will continually monitor COVID-19 in the community and may limit or stop performing non-essential procedures if a surge or spike in the number of positive cases occurs.

• La Follette Medical Center’s Emergency Department is open and will be providing care under COVID-19 safe guidelines.

Patients who have questions about scheduling specific non-essential procedures or services should contact

their provider’s office directly.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/29/2020-NOON)