HOSPITAL UPDATE

Garfield County Hospital District understands there are a lot of questions regarding visiting restrictions and we would like to address this. As we work closely with the local Public Health Department, we are able to make decisions based on many factors that tend to change rapidly. We continue to follow the Washington Department of Health and CDC recommendations for visitations. This will begin small as we want to ensure everyone's safety.

We are currently offering visitations for our patients and their families outside their window or in the Activities Room. If the visit is held in the Activities Room, it will be scheduled ahead of time and visitors will be screened for symptoms and a temperature taken prior to the visit. A plexi-glass divider has been set up for safety measures and masks are not required when using this divider. Visits in the common areas, such as the Day Room/dining area, are not allowed at this time. As the weather gets nicer, we hope to open even more to include outdoor visits. If you would like to take your loved one out of the facility for a visit, please call and we will work with you on an individual basis to make this happen while keeping them safe. We highly encourage not to go to overly-crowded events or areas, to wear a mask if within six feet of people for longer than 15 minutes, and to follow a good handwashing regimen.

At this time, we are not open to letting visitors come into the patient's room unless there is a special circumstance, such as of end of life or a disability concern where the caregiver needs to be present to help with the patient's needs; these circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

On a brighter note, restrictions have been put into place to allow the beautician to schedule hair appointments for our patients and we are currently working on having in-person church services again. Many people have asked about volunteering at the hospital, and we are allowing this but limiting it to a few for now. Please call ahead of time to make arrangements.

As of December 2020, we have a new Activities Coordinator, Samantha McGatha, who took over the position after Sandi Peralta retired last year. Samantha is doing a fantastic job and has many activities planned for the patients in the upcoming months. For a fun spring project, the patients will be selling plants that they have gathered from starts or have started from seed to the hospital staff and community. The proceeds will go to the patient's Resident Council Fund to pay for future outings and special events. Anyone that would like to donate to this fund is welcome to contact Cindy Wolf or Jenness Evanson.

Our goal is to keep our patients safe and continue to move forward into a normal atmosphere while maintaining a healthy and safe environment. We appreciate your continued support and patience. The best is yet to come!