Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness Information

Our hospital is committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients, employees, providers, volunteers and visitors. We are continuing to monitor the evolving situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and are taking the necessary steps to ensure we are fully prepared to care for patients, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in partnership with our local and state health departments.

Below are a number of resources to help educate you and your family on COVID-19. For more information on the virus, please contact the health department.

COVID-19 Online Risk Assessment

To help support the health of our community, we are providing access to an online COVID-19 risk assessment developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This tool does NOT provide a diagnosis, and it should NOT be used as a substitute for an assessment made by a healthcare provider.

Begin CDC Online Assessment

Visitor Restrictions:

At Meadowview Regional Medical Center, our top priority is safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our patients, providers, employees and community. We continue to closely monitor the prevalence of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community and follow state and federal guidance as we adapt our operations to safely care for and support our patients. Effective November 6, 2020, we are restricting our visitor policy as follows:

ER has implemented a zero-visitor protocol. Only patients receiving medical care will be permitted in the ER at this time.
- Some exceptions may apply (e.g. pediatric patients and those receiving end-of-life care). See front desk for more information.
All other patients will be limited to one WELL visitor per day, including one companion for ambulatory appointments and one support person for obstetric patients.
All visitors must be 18 years of age or older, will be screened upon entry and will be required to wear a mask and wristband at all times while in the facility.
Visitors who do not pass the screening at entry will be asked to reschedule their visit until they are symptom-free.
Visitors are NOT allowed for high-risk, isolation, immunocompromised or respiratory patients who are under observation or test positive for COVID-19.
We continue to screen everyone who enters our facilities for symptoms consistent with COVID-19, per CDC guidelines.
Please utilize alternative methods of communication, including technology, with patients as much as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding while we stay focused on providing high-quality care.

Quick Links:

If you need immediate medical care, contact your healthcare provider to describe your symptoms and any recent travels before you go to the healthcare facility.

Meadowview has taken the following measures to prepare, in accordance with CDC guidelines:

Anyone entering our facility will be screened for respiratory symptoms and recent travel history, based on CDC guidelines.
Personal protective equipment is available, including face masks and eye protection, for example.
Hand hygiene products are easily accessible throughout the facility.

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. For more information on the virus, please contact the Buffalo Trace District Health Department or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.

A complete list of frequently asked questions and answers about COVID-19 is available on the CDC website, by clicking here.

Testing FAQs:

I believe I have symptoms of COVID-19. What do I do next?

I’m experiencing mild symptoms right now, but I’m worried.
- If you are experiencing fever and/or mild symptoms of respiratory illness, you can and should isolate at home during illness. For details about how to correctly perform home isolation, tips for managing your illness at home with family members, and guidance on when you can discontinue home isolation, please visit the CDC’s website (link to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html)
- Should I get tested? Isolating yourself at home and self-monitoring mild symptoms is the best course of action unless you feel you need medical care.

Worsening symptoms – I need to see my provider.
- Be alert to any changing symptoms and seek prompt medical attention if your symptoms are getting worse. If you feel you need to visit your healthcare provider, call ahead before you arrive to tell them you’re experiencing symptoms that may be related to COVID-19. This will allow your provider’s office staff to properly prepare for your visit and take the necessary precautions to keep others from being infected or exposed.
- Will I be tested? Your provider will make this determination based on your symptoms, and recent travel history. You may or may not be tested, but your provider will follow all appropriate CDC and Kentucky Department for Public Health guidelines.
Emergent symptoms – I am having difficulty breathing.
- If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 and notify the dispatch agent that your emergency is related to possible COVID-19 symptoms.
- Will I be tested? Your emergency medicine provider will make this determination based on your symptoms and recent travel history. You may or may not be tested, but your provider will follow all appropriate CDC and Kentucky Department for Public Health guidelines.

How do I get tested for COVID-19?
At this time, tests for COVID-19 require a provider order. Visiting a provider does not necessarily mean you need testing or that you will receive testing. Your provider will work with the Buffalo Trace District Health Department to follow all appropriate guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kentucky Department for Public Health to determine if testing is recommended based on your symptoms and recent travel history.

What are the qualifications for being tested for COVID-19?
Someone may be a candidate for testing if he or she has:

A fever and cough or shortness of breath AND has been in close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case; or
A fever and cough or shortness of breath and a history of travel from affected geographic areas; or
A fever and cough or shortness of breath requiring hospitalization with no other source of infection.

Can I pick up or buy a test kit for COVID-19?

No. At this time, tests for COVID-19 require a provider order and are not commercially available to the public.

What do I do if I’ve been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19? I want to be tested.

If you have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should self-monitor for fever or symptoms of respiratory illness for 14 days. If you begin to experience fever or symptoms of respiratory illness, and they are mild enough that you can manage them at home, you should remain at home in isolation. For details about how to correctly perform home isolation, tips for managing your illness at home with family members, and guidance on when you can discontinue home isolation, please visit the CDC’s website (link to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html)

If you are not experiencing symptoms, or you are experiencing mild symptoms you can manage at home in isolation, you do not need to seek medical care or testing.

Additional Resources:

Page last reviewed: November 5, 2020
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)