VISITOR NOTICE

Please be aware that if you come to Knox Community Hospital for health care services for yourself, or as a support person for someone else, you may be asked by hospital staff to wait in your car during some portion of your visit.  This is for your protection, to reduce potential exposure to yourself and others during this time.  Please bring a cellphone with you if possible, so that staff may communicate with you when it is time for you to return to the building.

Thank you.

Call-line to help with potential COVID-19 cases in Knox County

For Immediate Release
March 17, 2020

Call-line to help with potential COVID-19 cases in Knox County

Beginning Wednesday (March 18), Knox County residents who think they might have COVID-19, we will have a new resource to get answers to their medical questions.

Knox Public Health and Knox Community Hospital are joining forces to open a call-line for local residents to talk directly with a medical professional about their symptoms and concerns. The call-line number is 740-399-8014. The call-line will be activated Wednesday morning and will be operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

The call-line will help residents who are symptomatic or concerned they might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. By talking directly with a medical professional, residents will be assessed and screened for further evaluation, care or consultation, before going to a clinic.

The new call-line is for medical questions only. For other questions regarding COVID-19, residents are requested to call the state hotline at 833-4-ASK-ODH (833-4-275-634). The state hotline is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

COVID-19 is highly transmissible. Health experts have said that every individual who has the illnesses will infect additional 2-3 individuals. For that reason, they want to curb the spread of the illness by limiting contact among potential patients and those who are not sick.

“It’s really important that people use the call-line before going to their doctor, or the ER or urgent care,” said Knox County Health Commissioner Julie Miller. “The call-line staff can determine if your symptoms warrant coming in for further examination,” said Miller.

Symptoms of COVID-19, which generally appear two to 14 days after exposure, include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Unlike the flu or common cold, most COVID-19 patients do not experience sneezing, headaches, or a runny/stuffy nose.

The majority of patients who are infected with COVID-19 will, at most, feel ill for a few days or a couple of weeks, but will recover without complications. There is no treatment for COVID-19, and no vaccine.

“Many of the people who use the call-line will likely be advised to stay at home, get plenty of rest, and monitor their symptoms for any changes,” said Miller. “It’s important to self-isolate so you don’t pass the virus to others.”

For a small percentage of patients, COVID-19 can lead to serious complications. These patients are likely to be older, have underlying health conditions or have compromised immune systems. Some potential COVID-19 patients may also require in-person medical attention for other reasons.

“Whether you are someone who just needs to stay at home and recuperate, or you need to see a healthcare provider for additional follow-up, it’s important to use the call-line,” said Miller. “It will enable us to track and assess how widely and quickly the virus may be spreading locally.”

Locally, there is no testing for COVID-19. Most testing is done at the Ohio Department of Health laboratory in Columbus. Testing can also be done at private labs including Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp, as well as the Cleveland Clinic.

“What can be done locally, is the collection of a specimen – usually a nasal or throat swab - which must be ordered by a healthcare provider and then sent to the lab for testing,” said Miller. To order a specimen for COVID-19 testing, an individual must meet certain criteria, such as being symptomatic and testing negative for seasonal flu.

“If you think you are sick, use the call-line,” said Miller. “And if you are sick, follow the advice given to you.” Added Miller, “Consider it your civic duty – you are protecting yourself and the other members of the community.”

For more information, contact Pam Palm, 740-507-6533 or ppalm@knoxhealth.com

For more information, contact Jeffrey Scott 740.393.9085 or Jeffrey.Scott@KCH.org

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KCH Coronavirus Update

Knox Community Hospital Coronavirus Update 

March 16, 2020

In our continued effort to respond appropriately to the COVID-19 outbreak, and with the guidance of Knox Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health, Knox Community Hospital is taking additional steps to ensure the safety of our patients and community:

• All KCH support groups, education activities, lectures, and interest meetings are suspended until further notice. 
• Several non-essential clinical services are being suspended at this time, including Cardiac Rehabilitation, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and all Wellness Activities at the KCH Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness. (PLEASE NOTE: Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy appointments are continuing at the Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness at this time.)
• The CRW Fitness Center will be closed to the public until further notice. 

Point of Entry, Visitor Changes

As of Tuesday, March 16, Knox Community Hospital will enforce a visitor restriction policy allowing only one visitor per patient. Individuals under 18 years of age are not allowed to visit at this time. Exceptions to this policy will be made for end-of-life circumstances.

Additionally, KCH has implemented changes to entry points at Knox Community Hospital (the main building), Knox Medical Pavilion, Knox Medical Center, Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness, and provider offices until further notice. Entry to the hospital will be limited to the main and Emergency Department entrances. 

Upon arrival or entry, all patients and visitors will undergo a brief illness screening. Visitors will receive a badge, which will include the date of the visit and department and/or the patient room location they are visiting. Potential visitors, who have symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, should refrain from visiting patients at Knox Community Hospital at this time, and should instead call the Knox County COVID Call Line, which will be operational at 12pm on Wednesday, March 18. 

Call-line to help with potential COVID-19 cases in Knox County

For Immediate Release

March 17, 2020

Call-line to help with potentialCOVID-19 cases in Knox County

Beginning Wednesday (March 18), Knox County residents who think they might have COVID-19, will have a new resource to get answers to their medical questions.

Knox Public Health and Knox Community Hospital are joining forces to open a call-line for local residents to talk directly with a medical professional about their symptoms and concerns. The call-line number will be released Wednesday morning and will be operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

The call-line will help residents who are symptomatic or concerned they might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. By talking directly with a medical professional, residents will be assessed and screened for further evaluation, care or consultation, before going to a clinic.

The new call-line is for medical questions only. For other questions regarding COVID-19, residents are requested to call the state hotline at 833-4-ASK-ODH (833-4-275-634). The state hotline is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

COVID-19 is highly transmissible. Health experts have said that every individual who has the illnesses will infect additional 2-3 individuals. For that reason, they want to curb the spread of the illness by limiting contact among potential patients and those who are not sick.

“It’s really important that people use the call-line before going to their doctor, or the ER or urgent care,” said Knox County Health Commissioner Julie Miller. “The call-line staff can determine if your symptoms warrant coming in for further examination,” said Miller.

Symptoms of COVID-19, which generally appear two to 14 days after exposure, include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Unlike the flu or common cold, most COVID-19 patients do not experience sneezing, headaches, or a runny/stuffy nose.

Call-line to help with potential COVID-19 cases in Knox County

The majority of patients who are infected with COVID-19 will, at most, feel ill for a few days or a couple of weeks, but will recover without complications. There is no treatment for COVID-19, and no vaccine.

“Many of the people who use the call-line will likely be advised to stay at home, get plenty of rest, and monitor their symptoms for any changes,” said Miller. “It’s important to self-isolate so you don’t pass the virus to others.”

For a small percentage of patients, COVID-19 can lead to serious complications. These patients are likely to be older, have underlying health conditions or have compromised immune systems. Some potential COVID-19 patients may also require in-person medical attention for other reasons.

“Whether you are someone who just needs to stay at home and recuperate, or you need to see a healthcare provider for additional follow-up, it’s important to use the call-line,” said Miller. “It will enable us to track and assess how widely and quickly the virus may be spreading locally.”

Locally, there is no testing for COVID-19. Most testing is done at the Ohio Department of Health laboratory in Columbus. Testing can also be done at private labs including Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp, as well as the Cleveland Clinic.

“What can be done locally, is the collection of a specimen – usually a nasal or throat swab - which must be ordered by a healthcare provider and then sent to the lab for testing,” said Miller. To order a specimen for COVID-19 testing, an individual must meet certain criteria, such as being symptomatic and testing negative for seasonal flu.

“If you think you are sick, use the call-line,” said Miller. “And if you are sick, follow the advice given to you.” Added Miller, “Consider it your civic duty – you are protecting yourself and the other members of the community.”


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Joint Statement from Knox Public Health and Knox Community Hospital

March 13, 2020

Local health officials, medical providers and administrators from both Knox Public Health and Knox Community Hospital have been working closely to develop a coordinated plan to ensure the Knox County medical community is prepared to address the COVID-19 outbreak. While there is currently no confirmed case of COVID-19 in Knox County, both organizations expect that status to change in the near future and are proceeding under the assumption that the virus is currently spreading locally.

Early next week our organizations will release details about how we will effectively coordinate care for those in our community who may become infected with COVID-19 while at the same time ensuring that the process of screening and care for these patients takes place outside of our typical environments of care and with a measure of centralized clinical assessment. This will be important in order to limit the spread of the virus, protect those in our community who are receiving routine care in clinical spaces, and to safeguard our local healthcare workforce, who will be vital to our success.

Most individuals who become infected with COVID-19 may feel ill for a few days or a couple of weeks, but will recover with no complications. It will be important to identify these individuals and for them to self-isolate at home to mitigate the spread of the virus locally. For a small percentage of patients, the risks are greater due to factors such as age, underlying health conditions, and/or compromised immune systems. These patients may experience more serious complications and require additional care or hospitalization, and we will need to be prepared to care for them for longer periods of time. 

We will have patients with COVID-19 in Knox County. We all need to work together to ensure there are as few as possible. Please wash your hands regularly. Begin practicing some measure of social distancing. Be aware of your own health and the health of those around you. Help those who need assistance as you are able. We ask for your patience and cooperation as we continue to respond to a unique and rapidly-changing environment. We cannot predict how long this disruption will last, but we can continue working together. And we will get through this together.

Knox Public Health

Knox Community Hospital

Knox Community Hospital Coronavirus Update

Knox Community Hospital Coronavirus Update               

March 10, 2020

Due to the evolving information related to the spread of Coronavirus in the United States, and with guidance from Knox Public Health, Knox Community Hospital will be taking the following steps as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure our community is safe and that our organization is best positioned to deliver the necessary healthcare our friends, families and neighbors rely on:

• As of Tuesday, March 10, we are restricting visitors to immediate family members, clergy, and a significant other or support person only. These restrictions will apply to all areas of our campus (including public areas such as the cafeteria) until further notice. Certain clinical spaces such as our Intensive Care Unit and the Birthing Center may further restrict visitation to those areas.

•  Visitors must be 12 years old and older.

• All clinical areas will remain open to patients.

• During this time, visitors will be asked to check-in with a staff member who will assist you to obtain a visitor badge.

• The KCH Gift Shop will be closed.

• The KCH Cafeteria will be open to employees, patients, and permitted visitors, but not to the general public.

Again, we are taking these steps as a precaution to ensure the safety of our patients and the community. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. We will continue to update this page regularly as necessary; in the meantime, we encourage everyone in our community to follow the guidelines offered by Knox Public Health, here: https://www.knoxhealth.com/index.php/public-health-issues2/infectious-disease/coronavirus.

Call Center for COVID-19

The Ohio Department Of Health Has Announced The Opening Of A Call Center To Answer Questions Regarding The COVID-19 Coronavirus.  

The call center will be open seven days a week from 9:00am to 8:00pm and can be reached at 1.833.427.5634. 

To prevent the spread of any virus including novel coronavirus, the ODH recommends people practice these preventative measures: 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 
• Stay home when you are sick. 
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. 

Additional information and guidance on COVID-19 is available at ODH’s new website, coronavirus.ohio.gov. 

Learn More: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/ohio-department-of-health-opens-call-center-to-help-with-covid-19-coronavirus-response/

Ohio Department of Health Public Resources: https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/Novel-Coronavirus/Resources-for-the-Public/

Knox County Health Department Resources: https://www.knoxhealth.com/index.php/public-health-issues2/infectious-disease/coronavirus