Outline of Precautionary Measures in Place at Harrison Memorial Hospital

Cynthiana, Kentucky – On March 8, 2020, Governor Beshear recommended that Harrison County residents should engage in social distancing. Due to the state strongly encouraging the practice of social distancing, HMH will limit the following services:

• HMH will limit visitation of patients to only immediate family at this time.
• The HMH Wellness Center will be closed until further notice.
• The HMH cafeteria will only be open to our employees and patient families until further notice.
• HMH has decided to cancel some of its elective surgeries, procedures and testing. You will be contacted by HMH personnel if your surgery, procedure or test is canceled and it will be rescheduled at a later date.
• Also, HMH has reconfigured each waiting area according to the social distancing guidelines.

   

Once again, HMH wants to alleviate concern to the public and ensure patients, visitors and employees that patient safety is a high priority. At HMH, there are negative pressure isolation rooms and each room is private with a private bath. HMH is also a PūrHospital™, which means HMH has installed a system called Pūrgenix™ throughout the hospital. The Pūrgenix™ technology uses ultraviolet light to deactivate or kill airborne bacteria and viruses. The system was installed in the hospital’s air-handling units in 2017.

Each staff member is educated and trained while maintaining a state of continual readiness. In addition, staff is given personal protective equipment when caring for any patient suspected of having an infectious disease. The HMH Certified Health Care Environmental Services Technicians complete daily terminal cleaning and will continue to complete terminal cleaning on every surface in both clinic and public spaces each day using anti-microbial disinfectant. Terminal cleaning includes removing all detachable objects in the room, cleaning lighting and air duct surfaces in the ceiling, and cleaning everything downward to the floor. Items removed from the room are disinfected or sanitized before being returned to the room.

HMH will continue to communicate with the local and state officials, local WEDCO District Health Department, and CDC. Please note: WEDCO, along with the State Department of Public Health, will be performing contact investigations.

HMH would advise the following recommendations for the COVID-19:

• PROPER handwashing for at least 20 seconds.
• Sneeze and cough into your elbow.
• If you do not feel well, stay home, drink fluids and rest.
• If symptoms persist such as high fever, sore throat, coughing and shortness of breath, please seek medical attention.

HMH also wants the public to know that testing for the COVID-19 is limited. At this time, CDC only recommends diagnostic testing of patients who meet the clinical criteria for a COVID-19 assessed by a provider and will be authorized by the state.

If you have any questions related to COVID-19, please call 800-722-5725 or visit www.kycovid19.ky.gov or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.