COVID-19 Safety Mitigation
As Governor Little takes steps to reopen Idaho, we are continuing to take precautions to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Steps we are taking to keep you safe
The well-being of our patients, team members and community continues to be our top priority and we are taking extra measures to keep everyone safe. We appreciate your understanding and support during this time.
Team meetings and COVID-19 response strategy
Our team frequently meets to discuss any changes in the current pandemic, readying our response plans and updating policies at the hospital to keep patients, employees and visitors safe. We continue to practice COVID-19 response scenarios in order to prepare for any increase in confirmed cases in our community.
Each scenario is designed to help all of our team members test our response plans, practice potential events they may face and ensure they all had the proper protective gear available and ready to keep them safe. The scenarios also give us the opportunity to learn in low-risk environments, so we are fully ready to handle any cases of COVID-19 that enter our doors.
Hygiene and sanitation
Idaho Falls Community Hospital has increased our sanitation efforts. While we regularly clean and sanitize the hospital, our team has increased the frequency of these efforts in order to help limit the spread of the disease.
Our staff members continue to wear face masks and we require all visitors and patients coming into one of our facilities to wear a face mask and use hand sanitizer as you enter a building.
We are taking extra steps to screen patients as they come to the hospital. We are checking temperatures to make sure patients do not have fevers and are asking patients if they’ve experienced any symptoms associated with COVID-19, been in close contact with someone diagnosed with the coronavirus or traveled to an area where there is mass spread of the virus in the last 14 days.
Outside of the hospital, many clinics have also established new procedures to keep healthy patients out of waiting rooms and instead go directly into sterilized rooms to wait for their doctor. Some clinics have even established separate entries for patients who are coming in for checkups, follow up appointments or regular testing. This helps limit the chance of exposure to any illness.
Visitor policies
At this time, we ask that visitors continue to limit their time at the hospital. We ask that We want to maintain social distancing measures and keep the amount of people in the hospital and local clinics to a minimum even as the state starts its reopening phases.
Telehealth options
We encourage anyone who has the ability to do so to schedule telehealth appointments when appropriate to limit the number of people in our clinics.
Our doctors are making telehealth easy for you to access. As long as you have a cell phone or a computer with a camera, we can conduct many of our appointments with you virtually. We have a secure platform we can use or, if it is easier for you, our doctors can conduct appointments using FaceTime, Skype or video conferencing platforms. We will work with each patient to determine what works best for them.
Telemedicine is a great option for patients who need to speak with a doctor about medication refills, managing a chronic disease, seasonal allergies, wellness checks, mental health issues, initial consultations, follow up appointments and, of course, anyone who is in a higher risk category for COVID-19.
Below is a list of our affiliated clinics that are currently conducting telehealth appointments:
- Altenburg Joint Replacement
- Blackfoot Medical Center
- Center for Wellness & Recovery
- Community Cares Pocatello
- Community Cares Idaho Falls West
- Community Cares Idaho Falls Channing
- Community Cares Rigby
- Community Cares Rexburg
- Connections Therapy
- East Idaho Neurology
- Eastern Idaho Spine, Sports and Rehab
- Erikson Family Practice
- Hinckley Ear Nose & Throat
- Idaho Falls Pulmonary
- Machen Family Medicine
- Pain and Spine Specialists
- Physicians Immediate Centers Chubbuck
- Physicians Immediate Centers Pocatello
- Pocatello Ear Nose & Throat
- Premier Therapy
- Primary Care Specialists
- Shelley Family Medical
- Sleep Specialists
- Teton Cancer Institute
- Urology Associates of Idaho Falls
Seek medical help if you need it
We do not want any of our patients to feel like they need to put off their healthcare. If you have an emergency, come to the hospital immediately. If you are dealing with a chronic health condition, go and see your doctor. You may need treatment now and we have ways to keep you safe while you’re in our care.
Putting off care, even for a few weeks, can have serious consequences down the road. We do not want any of our community members to find themselves in this position. If you have concerns about coming in for treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, please call your primary care provider. They can help answer your questions, tell you exactly the protocols they’ve implemented in their facility to keep you safe and help determine what is best for your health during these unprecedented times.
Cornerstone Cafe
Idaho Falls Community Hospital removed many of the tables in the Café to reduce the total number of people dining at one time. The remaining tables are spread out to create 6-feet of space between each table. As soon as someone is done eating, our team immediately sanitizes the table, so it is clean for the next person who sits down.
For now, Cornerstone Café has also closed self-serve stations. Typically, we have a salad bar and pizza station where customers can help themselves. With concerns over COVID-19, we have decided to pre-package all meals in individual servings at the salad bar and we will happily serve you at our pizza oven.
We have also moved silverware, glasses, straws and condiments behind the counter. Whatever you need, simply ask our team and we will hand it to you. This way, you can be certain the only people to touch your items are our culinary team and you. All of our team members are wearing gloves and regularly washing their hands to keep you healthy.
Our team is working around the clock to keep you safe and well fed.
