Kohala Hospital is routing visitors through a single point of entry in an effort to manage potential COVID-19 cases.
All visitors to both Kona Community and Kohala hospitals will be screened for flu-like symptoms prior to being allowed access to the hospitals. Symptoms include: cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose and or shortness of breath. Additional restrictions limit visitors to one per patient, and no children under 12 years of age will be allowed to visit patients, according to a press release from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation West Hawaii Region.
“We’ve implemented these restrictions at Kohala Hospital for the safety of our patients, staff and visitors,” Kohala Hospital Administrator Gino Amar.
The restrictions were implemented Saturday as part of an ongoing emergency preparedness plan to manage potential COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases. The measures are intended to protect the well-being of the hospitals’ patients, employees and their communities.
Hospital leaders work closely with the local department of health, and follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for the detection and management of COVID-19. Frontline staff members also routinely review guidelines and best practices for monitoring and containing potential infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
“Being prepared for an infectious disease like COVID-19 is a hospital-wide effort. We are continuously scenario planning in order to respond swiftly and appropriately,” said West Hawaii Region Acting CEO, Linda Rosen, MD, MPH.
Kohala Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital with acute and long-term care services and a 24-hour emergency room that supports the North Kohala community.