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Families are taking varying tacks to keep in contact with their loved ones, especially for individuals who live in long-term care or are in rehabilitation. RehabLiving at The Meadows and The Oaks are also helping to facilitate contact between residents and loved ones. Some options for keeping in touch, include the following:

• Phone calls. Phone calls are still an easy option to be able to talk to your loved one. Just hearing someone’s voice can be enough to lift both your spirits.
• Window visits. Families who are able to visit their loved one’s window can use that to have in-person visits. You can hold up signs and blow kisses. Talking on a cell phone or typing messages on it and holding them up to the closed window is a way to have a conversation.
• Facetime and Skype. Many nursing homes are facilitating video calls with families using platforms like Facetime or Skype. Coryell Health has purchased additional iPads so staff members can help residents from RehabLiving and The Oaks make contact with friends and family.
• Cards and letters. Sending cards and letters to your loved ones is another way to show them that you are thinking of them. Residents love to receive cards from anyone, it doesn’t have to be family members. Include photos or art work will help brighten the days of residents and bring back many fond memories.

In this unprecedented time, families need to get creative to stay in touch with their loved ones. Adjusting to the changes can be overwhelming, but as long as everyone keeps an open mind and uses the possible resources, everyone can feel loved and connected.

To schedule call with a loved one at RehabLiving call between 9am-5pm: (254) 404-2500

To mail a letter to RehabLiving: Coryell Health RehabLiving
Attn: (insert loved one’s name or label “any resident”)
110 Chicktown Rd., Gatesville, TX 76528
To schedule call with a loved one at Assisted or Independent Living at the Oaks call: (254) 216-1608
To mail a letter to AL/IL at the Oaks: Coryell Health The Oaks
Attn: (insert loved one’s name or label “any resident”)
1507 West Main St., Gatesville, TX 76528

No “quick” trips to the office or school, no shopping, no visiting friends and even family. If you must come out of your room, wear a mask. You can still live with your family during self-quarantine, but a room must be designated for your exclusive use. A bathroom should be, too, if possible. And don’t share towels. Every surface you cough on or touch could become contaminated with the virus. You should have no visitors, and keep three to six feet away from others.

Do’s

-All household residents living with you QUARANTINE at this time.
Including spouse, children and anyone living at the home
-Cancel or reschedule appointments
-Use telehealth for medical appointments, when possible
-If you must be around other people — in your home, or in a car, because you’re on your way to see a doctor (only after you have called) — you should wear a mask, and everyone else should, too.
-Make arrangements for prescriptions, meals and other necessities to be dropped off outside your door
-If you or anyone in your household experiences respiratory distress, call 911

Don’ts

-Do not go to work, even for a little while
-Do not take a child to daycare/private sitter
-Do not go through drive thru windows for food or prescriptions
-Do not go to grocery stores
-Do not get together with others that have been quarantined
-Do not come back to the medical clinic or ER, call 911 to expedite your care

You are not alone, millions of other Americans have also been asked to stay home in an effort to stem the disease’s spread. Coryell Health medical staff will continue to check on, by phone and follow the symptoms of, all patients suspected of having the virus.

Self-quarantine essentially means that people believed to be exposed to the virus should stay at home in isolation for the virus’ 14-day incubation period. Scientists say one reason it’s so difficult to control the spread of the coronavirus is that many infected people only show mild symptoms — or no symptoms at all. Health officials, including Coryell Health, are using this measure as a precaution — even when in many cases, you haven’t officially contracted the virus. Understandably, 14 days in self-quarantine can be unpleasant, but a necessary step to protect yourself, those you love and your community.

Family members and other occupants should monitor the patient’s symptoms and call us, if they see a turn for the worse.

Resources:
Respiratory/COVID-19 24/7 Hotline (254) 248-6263 ǀ
Coryell Health Clinic Telehealth (254) 865-2166
Coronavirus Online Screening Tool https://coryellhealth.org/covid-19-screening

It is an action that has been taught to us since early childhood- getting together and smiling for a photo. It can be easy to forget- even for people who are taking social distancing seriously and working to keep others at arm’s length or further! It has been ingrained in us to wrap our arms around each other and “squeeze in”, but while we are in this pandemic, please don’t.

Still take photos, but try to keep a decent amount of distance, ideally 6 ft. according to the CDC, between you and others. Documenting this event is important and social media has been extremely useful in helping people feel connected during this time of isolation.

Precautions and recommendations are rapidly changing, so please be kind to each other and remind our friends and neighbors how much we care about them, even if you have to do it from a little further away.

Self-quarantine, a voluntary separation from those we love the most. “We are asking our patients who we believe may have been exposed to the virus to avoid “close contact” with others to prevent the spread of disease. People are put in quarantine when they are not currently sick, but have been or may have been exposed to Coronavirus disease. This can help stop the spread of the disease,” explains Sheldon Chaffer, MD, Coryell Health Nephrologist, Vice Chief of Staff and Dialysis Center Medical Director.

What exactly is “close contact?”

It’s defined as being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of someone with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time. That includes if you are living with, visiting or sharing a healthcare waiting area or room with someone with COVID-19. Or if you have been coughed on by someone with the disease. “Doctors who intubate patients can get a higher number of virus particles, increasing the severity of the disease. The closer you are, the more particles you are exposed to, the worse symptoms you can have, resulting in more severe disease to those infected. Patients who have diabetes alone will have more problems, that is why we, at Coryell Health, are following all patients we have identified as being possibly infected,” says Chaffer.

Could it really be deadly for the young and healthy?

Some citizens may be more vulnerable, but this a brand new strain. “This is a new virus that none of us have any immunity to and that fact is important. When we had H1N1 sweep the nation in 2009, that was a huge problem, but some of us had immunity. COVID-19 is so new that how an individual will respond is unpredictable. We need to slow it down so we can manage it. If you’re one of the individuals that are severely affected, you will need an ICU bed,” adds Chaffer. “Most of the time if you have the virus you do just fine with fluids and over the counter meds to keep your fever down and relieve your symptoms. This Coronavirus is a new strain of a virus that none of us are immune to, so everyone is at risk.”

Do I have to quarantine when advised to do so by medical staff?

“If you get asked to quarantine, we are protecting you and others because we suspect that you may have the virus and could infect others. We support the measured responses of our local, state and federal governments to isolate in place, maintain social distancing, and to limit our travel to the best of our ability. So far the City of Gatesville Coryell County has not issued a “shelter in place” directive at the current time, but if more individuals do not voluntarily take measures, the disease will spread.” Coryell staff will be in regular contact with any patients suspected of having the virus.

Quarantines may be used during: 

• Outbreaks: When there’s a sudden rise in the number of cases of a disease.
• Epidemics: Similar to outbreaks, but generally considered larger and more widespread.
• Pandemics: Larger than epidemics, generally global in nature and affect more people.

What’s the difference between isolation and quarantine?

While isolation serves the same purpose as quarantine, it’s reserved for those who are already sick. It keeps infected people away from healthy people to prevent the sickness from spreading.

Don’t let your health decline while self-quarantine, call Coryell Health Medical Clinic at (254) 865-2166 and request a telehealth appointment for medical maintenance. If you are concerned or think you may have Coronavirus, please call our 24/7 Respiratory/COVID-19 Hotline (254) 248-6263 or take our screening tool https://coryellhealth.org/covid-19-screening.

“One unique layer of how we will successfully meet this challenge involves our mutual good citizenship.”

– Sheldon Chaffer, MD.

That means keeping 6 ft. apart from non-family members – is important to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. So is wiping down surfaces or objects where the virus can live and then be transferred by touch to the mouth, nose and eyes.

More things you can do-

• Staying home from work, school, and all activities when you are sick with COVID-19 symptoms, which may include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
• Keeping away from others who are sick.
• Limiting close contact with others as much as possible (about 6 feet).

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov. To get care, call us to schedule a telehealth visit at 254-865-2166.

Today, Coryell Health received the first positive COVID-19 test results on one of its patients.  The individual was triaged at Coryell Health Medical Clinic after self-reporting symptoms related to COVID-19. The patient was sent home while awaiting test results in self-isolation.

Coryell Health staff followed all standard precautions, accepted protocols and procedures to protect medical staff, employees, and patients.

David Byrom, CEO shared, “While we were hoping Coryell Health would not see a positive COVID-19 case, our diligent preparedness and education to all employees since the outbreak of this virus helped us limit this patient’s exposure to others. We have been in constant contact with the individual from the beginning and the individual remains at home and is recovering.”

Coryell Health launched a telehealth program to aid in social distancing and keeping our community safe, while continuing to provide quality medical care. Patients are encouraged to call the Coryell Health Medical Clinic to schedule a telehealth visit at (254) 865-2166.

Byrom reminds our community that is important now, more than ever, to continue the following:

DO’s:

• Continue recommended social distancing.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Call our COVID-19 Hotline if you think you may be sick
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Continue daily self-screening, including taking the temperature of everyone in household

DON’Ts

• Don’t go to work if you are sick.
• Don’t miss your routine medical care- schedule a Telehealth visit
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Coryell Health will continue to update the community on additional cases, as needed, on our website at, https://coryellhealth.org/press-releases/about-us/news/press-releases. Coryell Health has also established a 24/ 7 Respiratory/COVID-19 hotline for questions and for answers (254) 248-6263, as well as a respiratory screening tool on our website https://coryellhealth.org/covid-19-screening.

In an effort to keep our community safe while providing continuous medical care, Coryell Health has launched telehealth. Changing the way patients experience healthcare, telehealth provides access to our medical providers from the comfort of home.

At Coryell Health Medical Clinic, telemedicine is used to:

• Provide convenient access to medical services at home or assisted living facilities
• Help patients see a physician sooner and save valuable time
• Have medications electronically prescribed and sent directly to a pharmacy for pickup
• Provide access to medical providers who can virtually diagnose and provide support to patients

The innovative platform enables physicians to provide patients with a continuum of care and clinical services virtually anywhere. Patients benefit by having convenient access to medical providers through a real-time video connection over secure Internet-connected devices (computer, iPhone, iPad, Android). The virtual program allows our clinicians to safely, confidentially and securely conduct consultations and discuss exam results, recovery plans, treatment options and even electronically prescribe medications — all from a remote location.

Don’t miss your doctor’s appointments, not get your prescription refills or get sicker. Call us today at (254) 865-2166 to schedule a telehealth visit with one of our medical providers.

THANK YOU to the medical providers who risk their lives to protect others. #TeamCoryellHealth

Coryell Health infection control and safety training protocols for our healthcare workers incorporates processes for donning (putting on) and doffing (removing) personal protective equipment (PPE). “Protecting our healthcare workers and preventing the spread of infection to other patients requires that proper training for the procedure and safe work practices be carried out regularly,” said Heather Rambeau, Coryell Health Chief Nursing Officer.

The Coryell Health Advanced Wound Center is open and committed to ensuring the continuity of care for patients with wounds. We understand that some patients may be reluctant to leave home, but rest assured, we have stringent policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety of your patients and our staff.

We are following CDC infection control guidelines and are taking every precaution to mitigate transmission of the virus. Steps to protect patients and staff, include:

• Following CDC recommendations for COVID-19 screening
• Practicing social distancing in the common areas, such as waiting rooms
• Staggering patient appointments and arrival times
• Scheduling patients by acuity

Advanced wound care is essential – not elective – to protect the health of patients and prevent an escalation of their disease. Advanced wound care, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, is essential – not elective – to protect the health of patients and prevent an escalation of their disease. Podiatry has rescheduled all non-essential appointments, i.e. nail trimmings, elective procedures.

If you have questions about your appointment, please call Coryell Health Advanced Wound Center at 254-248-6204. if you have think you are showing respiratory symptoms including cough and/or shortness of breath with fever, please call our Respiratory Hot Line at (254) 248-6263, or you can take our COVID-19 online screening tool on our website.