Your safety is our top priority, every day. We are thankful for everyone who is doing their part to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Wearing masks while in public and maintaining social distancing are working to help keep the number of new cases low in our communities. At Bridgeport Hospital, we are taking extra steps to protect you, your loved ones and our staff at our hospitals, ambulatory centers and offices.
“We’ve learned that it is very important to not put off care,” explained Zane Saul, MD, Bridgeport Hospital’s chief of Infectious Disease. “We learned that during the worst of the pandemic some patients stayed home, and maybe stayed home too long, which jeopardized their health. Now that we are in a much better place in Connecticut, and specifically at Bridgeport Hospital, we can’t put off things like mammograms, chemotherapy and preventative care.”
Hospital teams are ready to assist patients before they even arrive, walking them through new, easy processes for pre-testing, arrival and discharge. These include using mobile device check-ins and reduced on-site paperwork. Several locations have remote check-ins while patients are still in their cars, allowing them to be escorted directly to pre-surgical bays. If you have questions, call your doctor’s office for the latest updates.
Screenings are the first change people encounter when they enter our buildings. Patients and visitors are asked about symptoms and have their temperatures checked at the door. Employees are required to take two temperature checks each day. If they have any symptoms of COVID-19, they are not allowed to report to work.
Every patient admitted to the hospital is tested for COVID-19, including anyone who comes in via the Emergency Departments. Every patient scheduled for a surgery or a procedure requiring general anesthesia is tested before they arrive.
Patients and visitors will notice more hand sanitizing stations throughout the hospital, underscoring an overall commitment to cleanliness. Patient rooms are cleaned daily, and deep cleaned after a patient is discharged. All of the cleaning exceeds the recommendations put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Physical separation of COVID-positive patients plays a big part in maintaining a safe clinical environment. Patients who don’t have COVID-19 are treated on separate units by different care teams while in the hospital. Patients with COVID-19 and those awaiting test results are cared for on designated units. From the onset of the pandemic, Bridgeport Hospital’s Milford Campus has been a COVID-free facility.
To help everyone practice social distancing, a limited number of patients and staff are allowed in elevators. Lines at screening areas, appointment check-ins and cafeterias have been eliminated. New signage guides everyone throughout the hospital.
Anyone experiencing a medical emergency, including signs of a heart attack or stroke, should get help right away. People are at a greater risk of serious medical complications if they don’t seek care during an emergency. Bridgeport Hospital’s Emergency Departments are ready to manage a wide range of medical emergencies. Proper precautions are in place to ensure patient and staff safety.
“We ask everyone to be smart and not put off their care because we are incredibly safe here at Bridgeport Hospital,” Dr. Saul said. “We want to provide you with the care you need and we’re doing everything possible to keep you and ourselves safe.”
For more information on how Bridgeport Hospital is keeping patients safe, visit World-Class Care. Never Safer.
