South DSM News

Pella Regional Health Center issued the following announcement on Apr. 22. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important patients continue to manage chronic conditions and any new onset of medical concerns. Pella Regional Health Center physicians are available to see patients. Patients over the age of two are encouraged to wear a fabric mask or homemade face covering to any medical appointment. If patients do not have face coverings or fabric masks, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides simple instructions on their website at  www.cdc.gov/coronavirus to make a homemade face covering.

Guidance from the CDC encourages the public to wear face coverings in places like clinics and hospitals, where it’s not always practical to maintain six feet of separation between individuals.

The CDC provides instructions for how to wear a cloth face covering:

• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• be secured with ties or ear loops
• include multiple layers of fabric
• allow for breathing without restriction
• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

 Pella Regional has taken many measures to lower the risk of exposure to COVID-19 at the hospital and clinics. All patients and staff are screened before entering the building. Patients with infectious symptoms are directed to the Patient Assessment Center which is located in a separate building away from the hospital and Pella Medical Clinic. Staff members with direct patient care interaction are behind a Plexiglas shield or wearing the recommended personal protective equipment. All these measures are in place to lower the risk of exposure while continuing to provide needed medical services to our patients.

Physicians are reviewing their schedules weekly to determine the most appropriate way to meet the medical needs of their patients through virtual visits, face-to-face visits or by rescheduling for a later date. Decisions are based on what is best for the patient and their specific medical issues while

maintaining compliance with social distancing and conservation of personal protective equipment as directed by Governor Reynolds. 

Physicians at Pella Regional Health Center consider the following conditions are medically essential:

• Prenatal visits
• Well child visits and immunizations, especially 18 months and younger
• Chronic care visits for certain diagnosis (Diabetes, COPD, congestive heart failure, or hypertension for example)
• Cancer screenings such as mammography and lung cancer screening
• Acute illness or injury

If you are currently scheduled for a visit with your primary care provider and you have not been called to reschedule, please know that Pella Regional has taken great care to minimize your potential exposure and we remain available to see you for your ongoing health care needs.

Original source can be found here.