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COVID-19 Toolkits for Community Members & Businesses |
| In need of information to better understand your response related to the COVID-19 virus? The Community Exposure Toolkit is designed to help answer many of your questions, such as how to self-isolate should you be tested for the virus, tips on disinfection, how to care for a family member, and more. The Business Toolkit provides valuable information on how to minimize exposure for your customers and workforce.
For the latest information regarding COVID-19, please visit our website: |
| | Spencer Hospital Tightens Visitor Restrictions as Inpatient Numbers Surge
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| Spencer Hospital has tightened visitor restrictions effective immediately following a surge of patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
On Tuesday the number of inpatients ill with COVID-19 surged to 22, which is triple the number of COVID-19 patients from a week ago.
Effective immediately, no visitors are permitted for adult patients on the inpatient units of Medical/Surgical (west second and third floors), Intensive Care and Behavioral Health. No visitors are permitted in the emergency room. Pediatric patients (under age 18 years) are permitted two parents to visit.
At this time, there were no changes to the current Birth Center visitation policy, which permits one visitor a day. Also, surgical patients may be accompanied by one family member or friend.
Anyone coming to the hospital as a visitor or patient must wear a mask at all times.
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| | | Do Your Part to slow COVID Infections: Help Reduce the Stress on Local Healthcare Systems |
| | When the SARS-CoV2 virus, which results in COVID-19 infections, first reached the United States last spring, there was a strong push to “flatten the curve.” The goal was to slow the spread of the virus to avoid overwhelming health systems and other resources. As COVID-19 has become more prevalent and community-spread in northwest Iowa, now it’s time to locally refocus on slowing the spread and flattening the curve.
Local hospitalizations have increased dramatically since the beginning of November. All area hospitals are experiencing an increase of patients ill with COVID-19. In addition to patients needing hospital care for COVID, patients also require hospital care for other medical concerns. At Spencer Hospital, service capabilities are assessed on a daily basis, contingent upon the number of inpatients currently receiving care and the availability of healthcare professionals. Some surgical procedures which would have required an inpatient stay have been postponed, due to staffing pressures.
You can help. Please help. - If you have symptoms that could indicate a COVID-19 infection – cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, headache, fever, or possibly gastrointestinal issues – contact your health provider who can assess if you should be tested for COVID-19.
- If you have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, contact your health provider and selfquarantine.
- Maintain a physical distance between you and others. If you will be near others who are not members of your immediate household, wear a mask.
- Cover your cough, wash your hands, and sanitize surfaces.
For a complete list of mitigation strategies and more information on COVID-19, check out CDC.gov by clicking the button below.
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| | | | Tips for Reducing COVID-19 Risks While Celebrating the Holidays |
| Thanksgiving is just around the corner, closely followed by Christmas and New Year’s. These holidays traditionally inspire gatherings of family and friends, yet due to growing concerns surrounding increasing COVID-19 infections, this year’s festivities will require even more planning than usual.
Staying home and participating in virtual celebrations is the best way to protect yourself and others. If you must travel and get together in-person with loved ones, be cognizant of the risks involved and plan for how you can minimize your potential exposure to viruses and reduce your chances of becoming ill.
For suggestions of mitigating risks of exposure, continue reading by clicking the button below.
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| | | Virtual Service of Remembrance Honors Loved Ones |
| The holidays can be a difficult time for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one; yet it’s also an important time to remember those loved ones. The annual Service of Remembrance, sponsored by Hospice of Spencer Hospital, Abben Cancer Center, Warner Funeral Home, Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundation, and area clergy, is a special time to celebrate the lives of deceased loved ones and honor their memories.
This year, rather than gathering in person, the Service of Remembrance will be broadcast on local public access television and will be available online. The 2020 Service of Remembrance will be aired on Spencer Municipal Utilities’ channel 2 at 6:30 PM on Monday, Nov. 30. It will also be available to view on Spencer Hospital’s website (www.spencerhospital.org) and Facebook page, as well as Warner Funeral Home’s website (www.warnerfuneralhome.com) and Facebook page. SMU will rebroadcast the service on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 3 PM & on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 11 AM. |
| | | Spencer Hospital and Avera Clinic Establish Drive-Through Testing Site; By Appointment Only |
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As dropping northwest Iowa temperatures make drive-through COVID-19 testing more challenging, Spencer Hospital and Avera Medical Group Spencer have jointly developed a covered drive-through testing site, available to patients whose care providers have placed an order for them to receive a COVID-19 test.
Since the COVID-19 public health emergency began in the spring, warmer temperatures allowed both the clinic and the hospital to offer drive-up testing. The week of Nov. 23 will be a transition week, with some tests still being conducted at AMGS’s drive-up testing site and others being directed to the drive-through site. After Nov. 30, it’s anticipated all ordered COVID-19 tests will be directed to the drive-through site next to the hospital’s emergency entrance.
The drive-through testing site is located adjacent to Spencer Hospital’s emergency department entrance, located on Second Avenue East. To access the testing site, turn south onto East Second off East 13 Street, drive up the ambulance ramp toward the hospital, then take two immediate right turns to turn into the hoop building designated for testing.
Spencer Hospital and Avera Medical Group Spencer staff will verify your test order and collect a sample to be analyzed by the lab. Patients will be notified of their test result by their ordering physician or a member of the physician’s care team.
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| | | November Recognized as National Diabetes Month |
| November is designated as National Diabetes Month to help draw awareness to this serious health condition. Diabetes affects millions of households across the country, and most people can say that they know someone who has diabetes. However, often people are unaware of prediabetes, which occurs when blood sugars are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes puts individuals at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
So, how does this apply to you? Approximately 88 million American adults - that’s more than 1 in 3 - have prediabetes, and more than 84% of them do not know they have it. So, what is the good news? Prediabetes is your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes!
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| | | Learn to Manage Your Diabetes |
| If you have diabetes, you know how challenging it can be to manage. You’re expected to eat a healthy and balanced diet, get plenty of physical activity, monitor your blood glucose (sugar) throughout the day, take your medications as prescribed, and do all of this to reduce your risk for complications. At times it might seem overwhelming, but you can thrive with diabetes with the assistance of diabetes care and education specialists.
Diabetes care and education specialists work with you to develop a management plan that fits your lifestyle, beliefs, and culture. They’ll help you understand how to use devices like meters, insulin pens, pumps, and continuous glucose monitoring devices; and use the information from these devices and will consider your lifestyle to identify patterns and opportunities for improvement. You’ll work together to find solutions to address your most pressing challenges. Dietitians will help you to evaluate how foods that you eat affect your blood sugar, discuss meal patterns, snacks, and look for ways to help you develop skills to eat in a more healthful way at home and away from home. They also discuss foods to focus on heart health and mindful eating strategies.
Ask your primary care provider about working with our Diabetes Education Care Team or call Robin at 712-264-8421 for an appointment.
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