Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness Information
Scott Memorial Health is committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients, employees, providers, volunteers and visitors. We are continuing to work closely with the Scott County Health Department and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).We want to assure our community that our providers and clinical teams are well-trained and prepared to manage outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the coronavirus and influenza. Actions everyone can take include, but are not limited to, vaccination, wearing a mask, good hygiene practices, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when ill.
Visitor policy:
To promote the safety of our patients, employees and visitors we have a limited visitation policy.
- One visitor is allowed per patient room per day. Please remain in the patient room while visiting.
- No visitors are currently allowed in the Emergency Department. If you are waiting for a patient, please wait in your car. Pediatric patients or patients with special needs may have a parent or guardian accompany them to the ER.
- For compassionate care accommodations will be made
- No visitors under the age of 16
- Patients under the age of 18 are allowed to have parent/guardian
- Outpatient procedures--Companions are asked to wait in their car for the patient, unless the patient needs a companion for care purposes. Mother/baby ultrasounds will permit two visitors.
Per CDC guidance and for the safety of our patients, providers, team members and visitors ALL visitors should arrive wearing a MASK and should be free of COVID-like symptoms before coming to the hospital. Please do not come to the hospital to visit if you feel ill.
Main Lobby Entrance Hours
The ED screener station is open to accommodate patient visits and visitors.
Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Weekends: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
How do I get a COVID test?
CDC recommends that anyone with any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection. If you get tested because you have symptoms or were potentially exposed to the virus, you should stay away from others pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional.
Scott Memorial Health offers COVID testing.
1. To make an appointment for a COVID test, register at https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/2524.htm
2. On the day and time of your appointment, go to Scott Memorial and proceed
to the parking lot on the side of the hospital that is marked with COVID parking
spots.
3. Someone from the lab will meet you at your car and collect your specimen.
COVID Vaccine Information:
Find out your eligibility for the vaccine at coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/index.htm.
Everyone must register online or by phone.
Vaccine Clinic locations in Scott County:
Scott County Health Deprtment
1296 N Gardner Street
Scottsburg, IN 47170
Register online or by phone
Here are the steps to take to register for the vaccine online or by phone:
Online:
- Go to the vaccination registration site: www.ourshot.in.gov
- Enter your zip code to see a map of vaccination clinics
- Register yourself or an eligible person using their name and age
- Person receiving the vaccination must bring photo ID to appointment
- Family member may make an appointment for a senior
- Vaccinations are free!
By phone – Call 2-1-1:
- Call center representative will make appointment for a senior
- Family member may call on senior’s behalf
- Call center hours 8am-8pm daily, including weekends
We will update this information as the rollout continues.
Why you should still wear a mask.
Universal Masking
Scott Memorial Health is taking every precaution to keep our patients and staff safe, and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our facilities. For this reason, we are following the CDC recommendation [and state/county mandate, if applicable] that anyone who enters our facility must wear a face mask at all times.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own mask from home to help conserve hospital supplies for patients and staff.
Why wear a mask? Recent studies show that universal masking, in addition to practicing social distancing and proper hand hygiene, can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, especially in individuals who may not know they are ill. And until there is a vaccine, these measures are our best line of defense in protecting not only you, but also our healthcare workers and community members.
Please be smart and do your part. Wear a mask! We all have a responsibility to protect one another against the spread of COVID-19 and make our communities healthier.
For more information from the CDC on face coverings and how to make your own, click here.
To learn more about the many ways we are working to ensure your safety while you are in our care, click here.
Monoclonal Antibody Treatment
Scott offers monoclonal antibody treatments for eligible positive COVID-19 patients.
Scott is using the EUA Regen-COV (casirivimab with imdevimab to be administered together) as a monoclonal treatment antibody.
Patients must meet specific clinical criteria including:
- Lab-confirmed COVID-19 positive test
- Stable enough to not require hospitalization
- Be within 10 days of symptom onset
In addition to meeting the above criteria, patients must also have an order from a provider to receive this treatment.
Who is not a candidate for this treatment?
This treatment will not be considered for patients who are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19, require oxygen therapy for COVID-19, and/or have a known hypersensitivity to casirivimab and imdevimab.
REGEN-COV (casirivimab with imdevimab) is not authorized for use in patients:
- who are hospitalized due to COVID-19, OR
- who require oxygen therapy due to COVID-19, OR
- who require an increase in baseline oxygen flow rate due to COVID-19 in
those on chronic oxygen therapy due to underlying non-COVID-19 related
comorbidity.
Who is a candidate for monoclonal antibody treatment?
Adults and adolescents 12 years of age or older with mild to moderate symptoms who weigh 88 pounds (40 kg) or more, and who are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. Please see your doctor if you have tested positive for COVID and meet one of the following:
If you do not have a doctor, please call one of our 2 primary care locations 812-752-0001 or 812-752-0020.
- Age ≥ 65 years
- Obesity or being overweight (for example: Adults with body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2, Children age 12-17 with a BMI ≥85th percentile for their age and gender based on CDC growth charts https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm)
- Pregnancy
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Immunosuppressive disease or immunosuppressive treatment
- Cardiovascular disease (including congenital heart disease) or hypertension
- Chronic lung diseases (for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma [moderate-to- severe], interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension)
- Sickle cell disease
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (for example, cerebral palsy) or other conditions that confer medical complexity (for example, genetic or metabolic syndromes and severe congenital anomalies)
- Having a medical-related technological dependence (for example, tracheostomy, gastrostomy, or positive pressure ventilation [not related to COVID-19])
Who is not a candidate for this treatment?
This treatment will not be considered for patients who are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19, require oxygen therapy for COVID-19, and/or have a known hypersensitivity to casirivimab and imdevimab.
Remembering the following tips can help prevent respiratory viruses
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or 60% alcohol based hand sanitizer
- If you are washing with soap and water you should do so for at least 20 seconds, which is about the time it takes to sing the “happy birthday” song twice be sure to rub your palms, between your fingers, the finger tips, backs of hands.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth especially with unwashed hands.
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Try to avoid crowds if possible, if not avoid close contact with people who are coughing, sneezing or are sick.
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Clean objects and surfaces that are frequently touched with disinfectant. (shopping buggies, door knobs, remote controls, commode handles)
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If you are coughing or sneezing always cover your mouth and nose area with your elbow or a tissue. Dispose of the tissue in the trash and wash your hands as soon as possible
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Coughing or sneezing into your hands can spreading viruses.
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Stay home if you are sick
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If you need to see your doctor, let them know you are having respiratory symptoms ( cough, sneezing, or shortness of breath) with or without fever, when you call.
Hygiene Reminders from the CDC
Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.
Wash Your Hands Often to Stay Healthy
You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before eating food
- Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After using the toilet
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
- After handling pet food or pet treats
- After touching garbage
Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way
Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.
Follow these five steps every time.
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Use Hand Sanitizer When You Can’t Use Soap and Water
You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label.
Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However,
- Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs.
- Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
- Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy metals.
Caution! Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning if more than a couple of mouthfuls are swallowed. Keep it out of reach of young children and supervise their use. Learn more here.
How to use hand sanitizer
- Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
- Rub your hands together.
- Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.
For more information, visit the CDC website.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019
- Indiana State Department of Health – www.in.gov/isdh/
- Indiana State Hospital Association – www.ihaconnect.org