Dear Grace Cottage Community Members,
I am writing to inform you about Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital’s preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our highest priority is the health and safety of our patients, our caregivers, our employees, and the communities that we serve. Our hospital, our rural health clinic, our outpatient services, and our retail pharmacy are all open and we continue to offer the professional and compassionate care that we are known for.
Three possible cases of COVID-19 presented to our Emergency Department during this past weekend. Following our safety protocols, we tested the patients; the Vermont Department of Health has since informed us that, fortunately, all three tests were negative. To date, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Windham County, Vermont.
For the past few months, we have been making preparations for coronavirus. We have been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Vermont Department of Health to implement procedures and protocols, which include:
- Educating employees about screening for, testing, and treating COVID-19
- Escalating our cleaning and disinfection procedures in all areas of the facility
- Signs have been posted for patients and visitors at all entrances, reminding them of the warning signs of COVID-19
- We have limited the number of access points to the facility, and employees have been stationed at key entrances to ask all patients and visitors if they have a cough, feel as if they have a fever, and/or have had a known exposure to someone with COVID-19
- We have a patient isolation room, if needed, in the hospital, and a patient isolation area in the rural health clinic offices
- Additional hand-hygiene stations have been added to what we’d already had in place throughout the campus
- Those entering the cafeteria must first wash their hands, and changes have been made to the food service process
- We have temporarily suspended all volunteer programs, wellness classes and programs, and non-essential meetings in our facility, including those held by outside organizations and agencies
- We will be implementing drive-up testing for patients who have been pre-screened on the phone by Grace Cottage. This service will allow these patients to remain in their cars while a nurse who is wearing personal protective equipment swabs their noses
What measures should you take to protect yourself and your loved ones?
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Twenty seconds of washing with soap and hot water is best, but an antibacterial sanitizer is acceptable if that’s what is available
- Practice social distancing by maintaining an area of six feet from people outside of your household
- Avoid events with large numbers of people, and also avoid hugging, shaking hands, or other greetings that involve physical contact.
- If you need to cough or sneeze, use the crook of your elbow or a tissue and throw the tissue out immediately
- If you develop a fever, a cough, or have trouble breathing, call your primary care physician or nearest Emergency Department. Do not go to a healthcare provider or clinic unless you’ve called ahead first
As the situation evolves, Grace Cottage remains committed to educating and caring for our community, patients, and staff. We continue to screen patients, train and educate staff as more information becomes available, adjust hospital and clinic processes, and educate everyone on how to keep themselves and our community healthy. Change is constant, especially when it comes to COVID-19, but some of the best advice we can give is to pay attention to the CDC and your state’s Department of Health websites. If you can, get plenty of sleep and good nutrition, and take a walk outside on trails or walkways that are not crowded.
Please stay safe and as healthy as possible,
Doug DiVello
President & CEO
Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital
