Welcome back! Thank you for taking the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your family safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
The virus has impacted us all in some way. Whether you’ve changed your work environment or have children distance learning from home, COVID-19 has affected the way we live. But it hasn’t changed the fact that our physicians and health care providers are here to help when you are ill, injured and need medical care.
As we welcome you back, we have eased our visitor restriction policy that was required to slow the spread of the virus over the last few months. On July 1, we began allowing patients one visitor per day across all hospital inpatient settings. We have also rescheduled appointments, surgeries and procedures that were postponed. Additionally, we implemented new safety procedures at all of our facilities.
COVID-19 has allowed us to accelerate the use of technology so that we can continue to provide high-quality care while adhering to the social distancing guidelines for your safety during the pandemic. We achieved this by offering telehealth visits that have reached thousands of patients in the comfort of their homes. These appointments are easy to set up on your smartphone or computer and will connect you directly with your physician. Whether you have a new health concern or need a follow-up appointment, in many cases, you can schedule a telephone or video visit instead of going to the physician’s office.
Remember, we must continue to be vigilant and protect one another with consistent use of practical measures such as good hand hygiene, which is proven effective in decreasing the spread of germs. While wearing masks and social distancing may be inconvenient, they are necessary and do have an impact. By following these precautions you helped slow the spread of the virus, allowing our health care team to continue to provide vital care to our patients.
You have my assurance that when you return to any of our care delivery locations, your safety is our number one concern. The comfort and safety measures that we have implemented are there to protect you and your family. Delaying care can lead to complications and advanced stages of disease. Our Emergency Department, physicians’ offices and testing services are open, accessible, and most importantly, safe. Please don’t hesitate to seek the care that you need.
As you read the articles in this magazine, you will learn how we are fulfilling our mission, our commitment to excellence and providing high-value, world-class patient-centered care that has never been safer.
We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Patrick L. Green, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lawrence + Memorial Healthcare
