(515) 332-4200 Pay My Bill SERVICES PROVIDERS & CLINICS PATIENTS & VISITORS SENIOR LIVING CAREERS & VOLUNTEERS MORE COVID-19 Update Click here for Humboldt County COVID-19 Vaccine information including upcoming clinics and resources: COVID-19 VACCINE Humboldt County, Iowa November 26, 2021 TOTAL POSITIVE CASES: 1,895 CASES BY AGE GROUP: (0-17)=287 (18-40)=652 (41-60)=526 (61-80)=348 (81+)=82 (DEATHS: 29) View Dashboard with latest COVID-19 case data in Iowa. Contains county level case and demographic information: https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/ Since November 19th, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Humboldt County Public Health have identified 27 additional cases of COVID-19 in Humboldt County. 8 (0-17) 9 (18-40) 5 (41-60) 5 (61-80) HCMH Drive-Thru Symptomatic COVID-19 Testing Site—Closing Monday, October 18th at 11am On September 20, 2021, our drive-thru symptomatic COVID-19 testing site opened to help meet the testing demands of our patients and provide a rapid test result for COVID-19. This proved to be a great resource once again and helped us isolate those individuals much faster to help reduce/prevent the spread of COVID-19. Today, less patients are needing to be seen for symptoms of COVID-19 and so we are making the decision to close this drive-thru testing site at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 18th until further notice. We have been working with our providers at the UnityPoint Clinic and HCMH Walk-In Clinic to ensure we have the access available should symptomatic patients need to be tested for COVID-19. Appointments continue to be available with your primary care provider at UnityPoint Clinic Humboldt Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and at the HCMH Walk-In Clinic on Fridays from 3 – 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. As of today, our supply of rapid COVID-19 testing kits continue to be available and will be used at each of these locations. The HCMH Laboratory will continue to offer Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. No appointment is required. Patients will need to enter in HCMH’s main entrance, stop at the HCMH registration desk to be registered and screened for COVID-19, including temperature, prior to testing. All patients will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing. If you are needing tested to travel, please call 515-332-4200 before arriving. Different countries are requiring different COVID-19 tests and we want to ensure you are receiving the appropriate type of test. Please visit www.humboldthospital.org for details or call 515-332-4200. Current COVID-19 Statistics Between June 14, 2021 and October 11, 2021, Humboldt County has seen 424 new cases of COVID-19 and 81% (342) were unvaccinated. In the last 10 days, Humboldt County has had 52 new positive cases and 85% (44) of those were unvaccinated. In total, Humboldt County has had 1,621 positive COVID-19 cases. As of today, CDC continues to show Humboldt County in HIGH community transmission, with a 12% positivity rate. 52% of the eligible population (12+ years of age) in Humboldt County is fully vaccinated. Available COVID-19 Testing - Friday, September 17, 2021 Individuals looking for Symptomatic COVID-19 testing will have a convenient new option beginning Monday, September 20th when Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) opens a new Symptomatic Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Site. The new drive-thru testing site will be located in the new HCMH Ambulance Garage off 15th Street and will be accepting symptomatic patients by appointment only. Patients will need to call 515-332-4200 to schedule an appointment. The Symptomatic Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Site will be open Monday-Friday from 9 – 11 a.m. Upon arrival, patients will need to pull into the ambulance garage from the west, complete the registration process and be tested. Patients will be tested using two swabs. The first is a rapid antigen test that will be resulted in approximately 15 minutes. If the results come back positive, you have COVID-19 and need to isolate for 10 days. If your rapid test returns negative, we will be sending your 2nd swab out for a confirmatory result. These results will take 24-72 hours to result. Patients who test negative with the rapid test, will be recommended to self-isolate until they receive their PCR (2nd) test results. HCMH also offers Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. No appointment is required. Patients will need to enter in HCMH’s main entrance, stop at the HCMH registration desk to be registered and screened for COVID-19, including temperature, prior to testing. All patients will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing. If you are needing tested to travel, please call 515-332-4200 before arriving. Different countries are requiring different COVID-19 tests and we want to ensure you are receiving the appropriate type of test. If you are experiencing any of these COVID-19 symptoms; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever or chills, cough, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestions or runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea please make an appointment with our Symptomatic Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Site or contact your primary healthcare provider. If you need emergency care, please call 911 or visit your local emergency room. “We would like to thank our community for having patience with us once again as we get this new site up and running. We are feeling the need and want to be here for you.” Michelle Sleiter, CEO Please visit www.humboldthospital.org for details or call 515-332-4200. *Appointments continue to be available with your primary care provider at UnityPoint Clinic Humboldt Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and at the HCMH Walk-In Clinic on Fridays from 3 – 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Humboldt County COVID-19 Statistics As of September 16, 2021, there have been a total of 1,497 positive cases of COVID-19 in Humboldt County. Since September 7, 2021 (10 days), we have seen 88 new cases of COVID-19. Of those 88 cases, 82% were unvaccinated. 21 are age 0-17, 26 are age 18-40, 27 are age 41-60, 12 are age 61-80 and 2 are age 81+. PRESS RELEASE – Monday, August 9th Starting today, Monday, August 9th, the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Laboratory will offer ASYMPTOMATIC COVID-19 Testing Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. No appointment is required. Patients will need to enter in HCMH’s main entrance, stop at the HCMH registration desk to be registered and screened for COVID-19, including temperature, prior to testing. All patients will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing. If you are experiencing any of these COVID-19 symptoms; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever or chills, cough, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestions or runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea please contact your primary healthcare provider. If you need emergency care, please call 911 or visit your local emergency room. COVID-19 Testing Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/index.html Humboldt County COVID-19 Information: https://www.humboldthospital.org/news-events/covid-19-update Public Notification - August 5, 2021 I would like to take a moment to provide information on the current state of COVID-19 in Humboldt County. Unfortunately, this pandemic is not over and the cases in Humboldt County and across the State/Country are on the rise. Since June 14, 2021, we have seen 70 new cases of COVID-19. Of these individuals, 91% were NOT vaccinated and 60% are under the age of 40. As of today, 3,879 individuals are fully vaccinated or 40.6% of the eligible population. The CDC is currently showing Humboldt County’s Level of Community Transmission as HIGH. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view While the war against COVID-19 may look a little different than it did in November of 2020, our staff and organization are prepared to fight it once again for the families and communities we serve. We are here to help answer any questions you may have or provide resources to guide you. Per the CDC as of August 2, 2021: Over 346 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in the United States from December 14, 2020, through August 2, 2021. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA). CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older get vaccinated as soon as possible to help protect against COVID-19 and the related, potentially severe complications that can occur. Widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic. If you are interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Humboldt, Hy-Vee Pharmacy has the Pfizer Vaccine and Larry’s Pharmacy has the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. No appointments are required at either location. Thank you for your continued support as we continue to fight through this pandemic. We will be updating our current positive case counts on a weekly basis at humboldthospital.org. Michelle Sleiter, CEO July 19, 2021 COVID-19 At Home Testing Option Testing for COVID-19 just became more convenient for residents of Humboldt County. Residents can now access free at-home, self-administered COVID-19 testing kits through Humboldt County Public Health as part of a partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health and Test Iowa. The FREE COVID-19 test kit will walk residents through a step-by-step process on how to collect their saliva. The kits are available by calling Humboldt County Public Health at 515-332-2492. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Once the saliva sample is collected, the kit can then be shipped via UPS using a prepaid UPS label included with the test kit. The kit is then received at the State Hygienic Lab. Results will later be sent via email within 24 hours from the when the sample is received at the lab. For more information or to watch a video on how to collect and return a sample visit www.testiowa.com. COVID-19 testing continues to also be available at the UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine by appointment and at the HCMH Walk-In Clinic on Friday’s from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The best way for residents to protect themselves against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Vaccines continue to be available in Humboldt County at the Humboldt Hy-Vee and Larry’s Pharmacy. Wash your hands. Stay home if you are sick. Get vaccinated. May 25, 2021 As Iowa lifts masking for fully vaccinated people, HCMH remains unchanged to protect the vulnerable populations we serve. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has emphasized that its new masking recommendations for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not apply to health care settings. This means that our staff, patients, residents and visitors are required to continue to wear a mask or face covering as recommended. This applies to our hospital, UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine, Humboldt County Public Health office, Long Term Care, Springvale Assisted and Independent Living. As this is an exciting and powerful moment to be able to get back to some sense of normalcy, we thank you for masking up while we care for you and your loved ones. Current Visitor Restrictions: As COVID continues to be part of our organization we must continue to closely monitor our visiting policy. Our visitors carry a risk of exposure with them each time they enter our facility. We know how important family is to a patient and their healing process that we don’t want to take away this privilege. Please continue to understand the visiting restrictions and help us hold our visitors accountable to keeping our patients safe. Below are the current restrictions: Inpatient Care: All patients will be allowed visitors. No age restrictions. Visiting hours will remain from 1p-7p, with the exception of end-of-life care and those struggling with confusion or delirium. All visitors will continue to be screened and required to wear a mask. We ask that visitors do continue to limit any unnecessary movement throughout our facility. Long Term Care, Springvale Assisted Living: Restriction continues to be based on the current regulatory guidelines that include our positivity rates in the county and employees/residents that are positive. Visitors are allowed in certain circumstances such as compassionate care situations or end of life. These are all scheduled visits organized by our LTC leadership team. Our chat room is also available for families but requires scheduling in advance. Springvale Independent Living: Visitors are allowed by appointment only. Please call 515-332-4500 to make an appointment. *Exceptions continue to be made for end of life care and those struggling with confusion or delirium in all areas/departments. Humboldt County COVID-19 Vaccine Information COVID-19 Symptomatic Testing Site Information coronavirus.iowa.gov | CDC | Iowa Department of Public Health | 2-1-1 Symptoms, Testing and Self-Checker Resources to Support Mental Health and Coping with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) COVID-19 Sleep Guidelines | Back to School COVID-19 Information NOW ACCEPTING - Personal Protective Equipment Donations | Make a Monetary Donation Here (restricted to emergency preparedness) Helpful Mask Information: Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Stop the Spread of COVID-19 | About Cloth Face Coverings How to Wear Cloth Face Coverings | Washing Cloth Face Coverings COVID-19 Update - March 5, 2021 We would like to extend our sincerest thank you to our 65 and older community and our educators for their flexibility and patience at our COVID-19 vaccination clinics this week. This week we provided vaccines to 449 individuals. We have confirmation of 120 doses which will arrive early next week. With this limited supply, we are going to begin to vaccinate our essential workers in food processing, agricultural production, distribution and manufacturing that cannot properly socially distance in the workplace. We will be working with the employers to get these dates and times scheduled. For our 75 and older community that received their first dose on Wednesday, February 10th they will be getting their second dose this coming Wednesday, March 10th at the Fairgrounds. Please schedule your second dose appointment, if you haven’t already, by calling Humboldt County Public Health at 515-332-2492. The Humboldt Hy-Vee pharmacy location has received an allocation of COVID-19 vaccine. These vaccines are available to the following individuals: • Pre-K through 12 Teachers and staff, and childcare workers • Ages 65 and Older Visit http://ms.spr.ly/6184VD0py to fill out the digital vaccine consent form and select a vaccine appointment time and location. Please be patient and do not call the Hy-Vee Pharmacy. They do not have access to schedule appointments that are not available online. We appreciate your continued support, Michelle Sleiter, CEO Joleen Sernett, Director of Humboldt County Public Health COVID-19 HCMH Updates-February 12, 2021 HCMH Symptomatic COVID-19 Testing Site--Closing On November 2, 2020 we opened a symptomatic COVID-19 testing site to help meet the demands of our patients and provide a rapid test result for COVID-19. This proved to be a great resource and helped us isolate those individuals infected much faster to help reduce/prevent the spread of COVID-19. Today, less patients are needing to be seen for symptoms of COVID-19 and so we are making the decision to close this testing site until further notice. We have been working with our providers at UnityPoint Clinic to ensure we have the access available should patients need to be tested for COVID-19. The providers at UnityPoint Clinic have same day availability to meet all your healthcare needs and do rapid COVID-19 testing. Please call 515-332-2015 to schedule an appointment. COVID-19 Vaccinations We continue to work closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health to determine our dose allocation and how to meet the needs of Phase 1B priority groups in Humboldt County. We have been able to vaccinate 417 individuals meeting the Phase 1B requirements as of today. These doses were given to Humboldt County residents 75 and above. As we continue to work through this, our educators in Humboldt County also meet the requirements of Phase 1B in Tier 1. With our allocation of 100 doses scheduled to arrive next week, we will be reserving that allocation for our educators within the Humboldt County school districts. After we complete this group, we will be moving back to those 65 and above. This will likely occur during the week of February 22nd. Please stayed tuned for more information as it becomes available. HCMH Walk-In Clinic HCMH will be opening a new Walk-In Clinic on Saturday, March 6th. This will allow patients to be seen in a clinic setting 7 days a week. Our hours of operation will be Fridays from 3p-7p and Saturdays and Sundays from 9a-2p. Our Walk-In Clinic space is located within the hospital and can be reached by entering through our Main Entrance. Our team of providers and staff will be happy to help you with any of your acute needs. We will also have access to rapid COVID-19 testing should that be necessary during the visit. Thank you for your support and patience as we continue to work for you and all your healthcare needs. We understand the frustration that many people are having with the COVID-19 vaccinations and the limited number of doses available. I can promise you that we are scheduling clinics as quickly as possible following the receipt of the doses. We want this vaccine in the arms of our Humboldt County residents as quickly as possible. On behalf of our HCMH team fighting day and night for you, Michelle Sleiter, CEO Public Notification – December 14, 2020 - Humboldt County COVID-19 Vaccinations With the recent approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccination, we want to share with you what that may mean for Humboldt County. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is working alongside our local Public Health department, our hospital and other care facilities to determine the appropriate portion of vaccination needed to treat those deemed most critical in the first phase. At this time, those individuals include healthcare personnel (HCP) and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. The initial Pfizer allocation of vaccine will not be distributed to Humboldt County at this time. We are scheduled to receive the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccination following the FDA EAU approval currently scheduled for December 17th. If this approval occurs, we have been informed that our first vaccinations in Humboldt County will arrive the week of December 21st. During the next few weeks, we are preparing our team with the resources, tools, and education to be able to provide the vaccination as soon as we receive our first doses. IDPH continues to guide us on what the next phases will look like as the vaccine supply increases. As soon as this information becomes available, we will share it with you and the appropriate steps to take to get your vaccination. Until the COVID-19 vaccination becomes readily available for all, please continue to practice all the measures proven to slow the spread of the disease. Wear a mask, keep your 6ft distance, wash your hands, stay home when you are ill and limit your group sizes. Also take this time to educate yourself from reliable sources on the COVID-19 vaccine and if it is right for you. Thank you for you continued support as we get closer to seeing an end to our COVID-19 pandemic. Michelle Sleiter, CEO Joleen Sernett, Director of Humboldt County Public Health Resources: https://www.humboldthospital.org/news-events/covid-19-update https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/Vaccine Public Notification - November 10, 2020 (Day 243 in this fight) I personally want to take a moment to reach out to our community and help everyone understand the current/critical state of COVID-19 in Humboldt County. COVID-19 continues to impact our lives more and more each day and is putting significant strain on our hospital. We are fighting every day for you and need your help. Please understand how important this is and the role that you play in helping us slow the spread. Wear a mask, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, stay home when you are sick and practice social distancing by limiting your groups and activities. We are doing our part to care for every patient and be here when you need us, but we can’t do this alone. Please be mindful of the decisions you make and how this could potentially impact others, especially the most vulnerable. On behalf of HCMH and every employee, thank you for your constant support, encouraging words, patience and choosing HCMH to be your healthcare partner. We will continue to fight this fight beside you, one day at a time. Michelle Sleiter, CEO For more information about COVID-19 in Humboldt County, our services or employment opportunities please visit www.humboldthospital.org. Special message for parents: Please be mindful of the activities your children are participating in outside of school and school sponsored events. While most children 0-17 testing positive for COVID-19 are experiencing mild or no symptoms, we do know that they continue to spread this silently. This spread is getting to our vulnerable populations and we need your help to slow this down. We just ask that you understand the situation and be mindful of the activities/gatherings that may have a negative impact on our already compromised situation. Thank you for understanding, Michelle Public Notification - August 10, 2020 As of August 10, 2020, at 1:00pm, Humboldt County has 27 active cases of COVID-19 with 86 cases recovered. Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, we have had a total of 113 positive cases. This is an 8.6% positivity rate for the 1,311 individuals that have been tested or 1.18% of our total estimated population. Our providers in Humboldt County are working together to evaluate and test our patients according to the guidelines set forth by the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control. We are actively testing symptomatic patients through multiple avenues. This includes a rapid test which takes approximately 15 minutes, an in-house test which takes approximately 1 hour or by sending samples out to a reference lab or the state hygienic lab which takes approximately 24-48 hours. Our providers follow a protocol based on patient presentation, symptoms and provider judgement to determine which route is to be used. We continue to monitor our kit samples on a daily basis to ensure we are able to provide each of these avenues to our providers and patients. Based on our availability of samples and recommendations of the IDPH and CDC, we have not been testing asymptomatic patients. We continue to see and care for those with symptoms and recommend those without symptoms to seek Test Iowa site locations for testing. Today, the closest location to Humboldt County is Storm Lake with Test Iowa Clinics in Algona and Clarion. In Humboldt County, we have the benefit of having our local Public Health as part of the hospital. We are able to work together to determine the best laid plans for not only the hospital but for the community. We are working hand in hand with UnityPoint Clinic Humboldt and feel we have one of the best teams around to continue to fight this fight. We are also working closely with our local school district as we continue to monitor our active cases and provide them with the support, data and current guidelines to ensure a safe return to learn environment. We are in this together, just 6 feet apart! Michelle Sleiter, CEO, Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Joleen Sernett, Director of Humboldt County Public Health COVID-19 Death Confirmed in Humboldt County October 23, 2020 - COVID-19 Death Confirmed in Humboldt County The Humboldt County Department of Public Health today announced the third death associated with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the county. The individual was in the 61-80 age group. “We are saddened to report the counties third COVID-19 related death. We urge residents to continue being vigilant and supportive of each other as we work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect each other,” said Humboldt County Public Health Director Joleen Sernett. This loss is a reminder that we must all do our part to protect our most vulnerable. This means to stay home if you are sick, maintaining six feet distance from those outside of your household, washing your hands often, and wearing a face covering when social distancing is not possible. *Deaths are reported following a complete investigation and finalized death certificate. For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the IDPH webpage at https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/ and follow Humboldt County cases at https://www.humboldthospital.org/news-events/covid-19-update Iowa Code Chapter 22 prohibits the release of information that could lead to the identification of an individual or facility. Humboldt County Public Health is following Iowa law by not releasing information such as the town where an individual lives. Some states have different confidentiality laws; regardless, information related to where an individual lives or has visited is not essential in protecting the public’s health during the COVID-19 outbreak. August 17, 2020 - COVID-19 Death Confirmed in Humboldt County The Humboldt County Department of Public Health today announced the second death associated with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the county. The individual was in the 61-80 age group. “We extend our sincere condolences to this individual’s loved ones,” said Humboldt County Public Health Director Joleen Sernett. This loss is a reminder that we must all do our part to protect our most vulnerable. This means to stay home if you are sick, maintaining six feet distance from those outside of your household, washing your hands often, and wearing a face covering when social distancing is not possible. For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the IDPH webpage at https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/ and follow Humboldt County cases at https://www.humboldthospital.org/news-events/covid-19-update Iowa Code Chapter 22 prohibits the release of information that could lead to the identification of an individual or facility. Humboldt County Public Health is following Iowa law by not releasing information such as the town where an individual lives. Some states have different confidentiality laws; regardless, information related to where an individual lives or has visited is not essential in protecting the public’s health during the COVID-19 outbreak. June 1, 2020 - First Death Associated with COVID-19 The Humboldt County Department of Public Health today announced the first death associated with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the county. The individual was in the 61-80 age group. “We wish to extend our sympathy to this individual’s family,” said Humboldt County Public Health Director Joleen Sernett. Humboldt County Public Health and all of our key partners throughout the county and state continue to work to limit the spread and impact of this virus in our communities. Iowa Code Chapter 22 prohibits the release of patient information that could lead to the identification of any individual. Humboldt County Public Health is following Iowa law by not releasing any further information. Humboldt County Public Health continues to strongly encourage all vulnerable Iowans, including those with preexisting medical conditions and those older than 65, to continue to limit their activities outside of their home, including their visits to businesses and other establishments and their participation in gatherings of any size and any purpose. We encourage all Iowans to limit their in-person interactions with vulnerable Iowans and to exercise particular care and caution when engaging in any necessary interactions. For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Humboldt County, visit https://www.humboldthospital.org/news-events/covid-19-update and follow Humboldt County Public Health on Facebook @HumboldtCountyPublicHealth For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Iowa, visit https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/ and follow the Iowa Department of Public Health on Facebook at @IowaDepartmentOfPublicHealth and on Twitter at @IAPublicHealth. June 22, 2020 - VISITOR RESTRICTION UPDATES Family Members and Visitors of Humboldt County Memorial Hospital As we continue to learn more about COVID-19, secure personal protective equipment (PPE) and higher quantities of testing kits, we are able to reduce the number of restrictions placed on our patients, visitors and staff. Following the recommendations provided by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) effective Tuesday, June 23rd we will be making the following changes to our visitor restrictions: Emergency Room: Patients will be allowed 2 visitors at a time and must be over the age of 16. Inpatient Care: Patients will be allowed 2 visitors at a time and must be over the age of 16. Visiting hours will be daily from 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Outpatient Services: Patients will be allowed 1 visitor, but we prefer patients come alone when able. Long Term Care, Springvale Assisted Living and Springvale Independent Living: Our team is actively working to reopen our senior living facilities while minimizing the risk for COVID-19. State and local officials have created a three-phased approach to start easing the current restrictions. As we move from Phase 1 to Phase 2, we will be working closely with the families on our guidelines to ensure the safety of our staff and residents. The recommended reopening guidance can be found at idph.iowa.gov. *Exceptions continue to be made for end of life care and those struggling with confusion or delirium in all areas/departments. *All visitors are required to be screened and wear a face covering. We also ask that visitors limit any unnecessary movement throughout our facility. For up to date information on COVID-19 activity in Humboldt County, please go to coronavirus.iowa.gov or our website at humboldthospital.org. Please continue to be mindful of this situation and the vulnerable populations we serve. Please STOP and think if your visit is necessary, and we ask that you DO NOT visit if you are exhibiting flu like symptoms including but not limited to fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing or have been potentially exposed to COVID-19. Thank you for understanding and doing your part to protect our staff, patients, residents and tenants. If you have any questions, please contact the hospital at 515-332-4200. May 11, 2020 at 12:45 p.m. Happy Hospital Week! This week we celebrate all of our employees for their dedication to this organization and providing exceptional patient care. I am so proud of our team and the way they have stepped up to this new normal. I’m also thankful of everyone in our community who has stayed home to help limit the spread of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it crystal clear just how much communities rely on their local hospitals and also how much we rely on you. During the past couple months, we’ve felt an outpouring of support and we are grateful to everyone who has delivered a meal, sewn a face mask, left a card, made a PPE donation, or who has just reached out to one of our employees to say – thank you. At HCMH, we are used to responding in times of crisis, but this pandemic is unlike anything any of us has ever experienced. And, we know it has created anxiety for many people, especially when it comes to seeking healthcare services. So, we want you to know a few things. First, you can count on us to maintain a safe environment for patients and staff. We are going above and beyond all our normal efforts to keep our hospital, surgery center, and senior living facilities clean and safe. We are screening everyone who comes into the hospital, taking temperatures, providing face masks as needed and rearranging our environments to ensure social distancing. We also want you to know that if you have sudden symptoms that may indicate a medical emergency, you can - and you should - seek immediate medical attention. Our emergency department is open 24/7, for you and your loved ones. Getting fast medical treatment could be the difference between life and death – so please, don’t ignore or rationalize the signs of a medical emergency. Call 911, come to the hospital, and get the help you need. The same goes for chronic conditions and even routine healthcare needs. We are ready and prepared to care for you safely if your visit requires you to come to the hospital. We are in this together and together we have seen how powerful our human connection really is. So, help us stay strong as we continue in this journey – stay six feet apart, wash your hands frequently, tell someone how much you appreciate them, and if you need healthcare, please don’t be afraid. We are here and prepared to safely meet your needs. Thank you for your continued support to our team at HCMH. Michelle Sleiter, CEO May 6, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Humboldt County Memorial Hospital COVID-19 Update Patients, visitors and vendors are required to wear a face covering at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. New information is emerging every day on how coronavirus spreads and the best ways to protect against COVID-19. The most effective protections include washing your hands frequently with soap and water and practicing physical and social distancing. However, wearing cloth face masks or coverings in public when social distancing can’t be observed, does slow the spread of COVID-19. Beginning Wednesday, May 6th, patients and visitors will be required to wear a personal homemade or cloth face covering while on our property and are highly encouraged to bring their own cloth face covering to help conserve the supply of masks for front-line medical staff. If you do not have a mask, we will provide one. Please note, visitor restrictions remain in place until further notice with few exceptions. This decision is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our local health experts. Patients and visitors will see staff providing direct patient care wearing surgical masks and face shields. In procedural areas, additional personal protective equipment (PPE) will be worn by staff according to Infection Prevention and Control guidelines. Staff working in non-patient care areas will also be wearing a mask or face covering. Your understanding and compliance with these mandatory guidelines is greatly appreciated. Michelle Sleiter, CEO No Sew Face Covering solutions can be found at: https://www.humboldthospital.org/filesimages/Articles/No%20Sew%20Face%20Coverings.pdf Face Covering Do’s and Don’ts: Do: Make sure you can breathe through it Wear it whenever going out in public Make sure it covers your nose and mouth Wash after using Don’t: Use it if under two years old Use surgical masks or other PPE intended for healthcare workers https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html April 29, 2020 at 9:15 a.m. Humboldt County Memorial Hospital COVID-19 Update Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) will begin a phased approach to safely resume services, effective immediately. The decision was made in accordance with Governor Kim Reynold’s recent declaration of Iowa’s initiative to begin lifting restrictions on health care services. HCMH’s phased approach is designed to resume medical services safely while continuing to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. This first phase includes resuming non-urgent/non-emergent medical, diagnostic radiology and laboratory services that have been on hold since March 23rd. These noninvasive tests and procedures include magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRI’s), computed tomography scans (CTs), CT calcium scoring, bone density imaging, CT lung cancer screenings and mammography. Physical, occupational and speech therapies for all ages in our wellness hub will also resume; as well as cardiopulmonary, cardiac rehab, sleep studies, diabetes and nutrition therapy. Over the next few weeks, HCMH also plans to safely and cautiously resume outpatient clinic services and surgeries on a case by case basis. New protocols and procedure clearances will be put in place to ensure we are following all state guidelines. We recognize that many patients, including some with serious medical conditions, have put off seeking medical care and had to delay procedures and surgeries. The need for medical intervention is essential to the overall health and well-being of these patients and we want to get them in as soon as possible. However, as we gradually open up services, we will continue to offer telehealth services, rather than in-person services whenever possible for the safety of our patients and staff. As part of this plan, HCMH has implemented several measures to enforce social distancing in waiting and registration areas and staggering scheduled appointments. Additional safety enhancements include: All employees, providers, patients and visitors will continue to be screened for fever and respiratory symptoms upon entering our facility. Patients and visitors are encouraged to wear their own face covering. Those who do not have a face covering and show signs or symptoms of respiratory illness will be given a surgical mask to wear. Employees and providers caring for patients will be provided the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). The no-visitor policy remains in place for our hospital, Long Term Care and Springvale Senior Living. Our cafeteria and gift shop will remain closed until further notice. Infection prevention best practices including thorough cleaning and sterilization in between each and every patient visit, will continue. Due to the dedicated and around-the-clock work of our staff we are confident in our ability to care for you and your loved ones as we fight against the coronavirus. We have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and we continue to secure more. Our care team is comprised of very talented and compassionate individuals ready to safely serve YOU. Thank you for your patience and continued support. Michelle Sleiter, CEO April 23, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. Humboldt County Memorial Hospital COVID-19 Update As of today, Humboldt County has 4 known positive COVID-19 cases. Given the global pandemic and potential spread of this virus, it is not a surprise to have positive cases in our county and we have been preparing for this over the last month. We are also continuously monitoring and implementing the latest guidance provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health and the CDC. We have been operating our incident command center and feel confident in our approach. We are also grateful for the recent release of restrictions by the federal government which will help us in testing and to provide care. We have testing supplies and will follow the guidance of the health departments to determine if testing is recommended. With that said, it’s imperative that we all work together and support each other to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 in the future. For anyone in the community who is ill or needs to seek medical care, we ask that you please call ahead to your primary care provider or other point of care to let them know you have signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19. As always, if you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. We continue to restrict visitors to our hospital, Long Term Care, Springvale Assisted Living and Springvale Independent Living to help protect our staff and the people we’re caring for, especially the most vulnerable. If you have any questions about our services during this time, please call 515-332-4200 and we will gladly assist you. We have also adjusted our main entrance hours during this time; the doors will be opened and unlocked Monday-Thursday 6:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Friday 6:30 a.m.-8:15 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Please enter through the Emergency Room any other times. What we need now is the help of our community to ensure our healthcare resources will allow us to continue providing the best care possible. You can help to reduce and potentially prevent the spread of COVID-19 by continuing to follow the current recommendations: Stay home if you’re sick Practice social distancing Avoid community gatherings Wash your hands Be respectful of others, especially the most vulnerable Most importantly, now is the time to stay calm and be informed These simple steps ARE making a difference. If you have further questions, the Iowa Department of Public Health is available 24/7 at 2-1-1 to answer any questions you may have, and information may be found on-line at coronavirus.iowa.gov. You may also call our hospital at 515-332-4200. Hang in there as we continue to fight this fight. We’re in this together and we will get through this. Michelle Sleiter, CEO ***Iowa Code Chapter 22 prohibits the release of information that could lead to the identification of an individual or facility. Humboldt County Public Health and Humboldt County Memorial Hospital is following Iowa law by not releasing information such as the town where an individual lives. Some states have different confidentiality laws; regardless, information related to where an individual lives or has visited is not essential in protecting the public’s health during the COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19 is circulating widely in the state and in our county. A resident’s chance of being exposed to the virus is high, regardless of contact with a confirmed case. This is why all residents are advised to stay home as much as possible, and when they must leave for essential errands like groceries or to get medication, they maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid groups of people. This is because the risk of exposure to the virus is NOT limited to exposure to a known case; you could just as easily be exposed to an undiagnosed individual who is at the grocery store.*** April 3, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Humboldt County Memorial Hospital COVID-19 Update There are currently NO known cases of COVID-19 in Humboldt County. Humboldt County Memorial Hospital is further limiting our visitation restrictions and implementing screening to all entering our facility to protect the health and safety of our patients, residents, tenants and staff. Effective Saturday April 4th: Inpatient Care: No Visitors allowed unless under the following circumstances: End of Life Care Patient is a minor under the age of 18 Patient is suffering from confusion or delirium Emergency Room/Outpatient Areas/Clinic: One designated caregiver per patient Designated Caregivers defined: Siblings under the age of 16 are not allowed Always remain in patient room as appropriate Limit movement within the facility and avoid common areas Free from illness such as fever, sore throat, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, runny nose Long Term Care, Springvale Assisted Living and Springvale Independent Living continue to not allow visitors at this time. All visitors/vendors will be screened upon arrival to our facility. We understand these visitor restrictions may be difficult to understand, however, restricting visitors is in the best interest of our patients and staff. We encourage all loved ones to use phone calls or video chats on personal phones or mobile devices to communicate. If the circumstance allows, we can also arrange for you to see your loved one through the window or on our available devices. While there have not been confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Humboldt County as of today, the best way to protect our community from being impacted by an outbreak is prevention. This includes visitor restrictions and screenings like we have implemented to protect our most vulnerable populations. If you feel that you’ve developed symptoms of COVID-19, please call your healthcare provider and if you plan to visit our hospital, Public Health office, UnityPoint Family Medicine Clinic or Walk-in Clinic, please call ahead. We will continue to provide updates on our website, www.humboldthospital.org and Facebook Pages, Humboldt County Memorial Hospital and Humboldt County Public Health. We’re in this Together. Michelle Sleiter, CEO March 23, 2020 at 7:15 p.m. Humboldt County Memorial Hospital COVID-19 Update There are currently NO known cases of COVID-19 in Humboldt County. As we continue to venture through this new journey together, we want you to know we are here for you should you have any questions. We also want you to know the best place to understand the current facts are by going to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) website at https://idph.iowa.gov or the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) website at https://www.cdc.gov. These are the trusted resources for you and your family. Our hospital will continue to be here to support you in all your healthcare needs. COVID-19 has become the main event but we know you have continued needs for your health. All of our services/departments are open and available to you. During your registration process, we will be taking extra measures to screen you for any COVID-19 exposure risks. This is to protect you and our staff. If you have any questions about our services during this time, please call 515-332-4200 and we will gladly assist you. We appreciate the outpouring of support from this community in your willingness to step in and help in any way possible. If you or your business would like to make a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), goggles, gifts (food or other) to staff or a monetary donation please contact Mardi Ratzlaff, Foundation Director at 515-332-7626. We have received multiple inquiries on homemade masks. We appreciate knowing you are there and ready when we need you. Today, we are equipped with enough masks to get us through a short period of time. There may come a time when we need these from you. If you are interested in making homemade masks please call the Humboldt County Public Health office at 515-332-2492. We are currently tracking individuals available to help us should the need arise. If you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. The greatest support you can offer today is by helping us reduce the spread of COVID-19. Practice social distancing. Be Smart. Stay Apart. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your mouth with your upper arm or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. We understand this can be a scary time for you and your family, but we at HCMH are ready to be your partner in this journey. Michelle Sleiter, CEO Follow updates on our Facebook Page here! Other Resources: Center for Disease Control (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH): https://idph.iowa.gov/emerging-health-issues/novel-coronavirus March 20, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Humboldt County Memorial Hospital COVID-19 Update There are currently NO known cases of COVID-19 in Humboldt County. Based on the current COVID-19 situation and recommendations by our expert resources, HCMH will be taking the next step in reducing the spread of COVID-19. *Effective immediately and until further notice, HCMH will be restricting all visitors to Springvale Independent Living. *exceptions for essential care will be approved on a case by case basis. Long Term Care and Assisted Living are continuing to restrict all visitors. Our Inpatient Care Unit will now be limiting each patient to one designated visitor over the age of 18. This is the only visitor allowed to be with this patient during their stay. Visiting times are not limited to any specific time. Our Emergency Room, Surgery Department and Pain Center will be limiting each patient to one visitor, over the age of 18, for the duration of their visit. *Beginning on Monday March 23rd, our surgery department and radiology department will be limiting non-essential services over the next two weeks. These services include routine screening colonoscopies, routine mammograms, bone density imaging, CT lung cancer screening and CT calcium scoring. All other procedures and exams will be evaluated by our physicians and surgeons to determine when a test or procedure is necessary. These decisions do not come lightly, and our top priority is the health and safety of all our patients, residents, tenants and staff. If you have any questions during this time, please reach out to your health care provider or contact the hospital directly at 515-332-4200. March 18, 2020 at 1:05 p.m. Family Members and Visitors of Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Following Gov. Reynolds issuing a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency activating the public health response and recovery aspects of the State Disaster Emergency Plan effective at noon on Tuesday, March 18th. HCMH will not be allowing visitors/families to eat lunch at the hospital. Meals will continue to be served to staff per new guidelines. https://idph.iowa.gov/News/ArtMID/646/ArticleID/158309/Gov-Reynolds-issues-a-State-of-Public-Health-Disaster-Emergency?fbclid=IwAR0AkMMMDdodLF0TH7ZfvYIrDpmjGL_NBNMxBbnIfx-rhyIOixHZtikXJ-c#.XnDtrnhhnb4.facebook March 14, 2020 at 1:05 p.m. Family Members and Visitors of Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Following President Trumps declaration, CMS (Medicare) revised their guidance for visitation. 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