White River Medical Center (WRMC) released an update this afternoon to provide notification that it has and will continue to care for patients being tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
To date, all test results received are negative, WRMC noted. At present, a small number of patient test results are pending, and it is a certainty that more patients will be isolated and tested in the coming days and weeks, WRMC said in the update.
Out of an abundance of caution, patients admitted to the hospital for an unknown respiratory illness are cared for in isolation by healthcare staff using Centers for Disease Control infectious disease protocols and the recommended level of personal protective equipment (PPE) until the coronavirus is ruled out.
Several weeks ago, when the first case of coronavirus was announced in the United States, WRMC began the implementation of plans to care for patients presumed to have the coronavirus, including isolation rooms with separate ventilation, and PPE for healthcare staff.
The local healthcare community is working nonstop with local and state leaders to safely provide quality medical care, WRMC said.
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