Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration gave further guidance on a phased, gradual reopening of healthcare services and facilities that will begin Monday across the state.
During his daily address, Beshear pointed out healthcare facilities will operate vastly different than they did before the outbreak of COVID-19. Steven Stack, commissioner for the Department for Public Health, said a surge may require more adjustment moving forward.
“To do this safely, make sure you are going above and beyond,” Beshear said. “This is our proof of concept in the medical community. We have to prove that we can do this the right way.”
The governor said the phased healthcare services reopening is the first step under the Healthy at Work initiative he introduced Tuesday to help businesses reopen safely when the time is right.
The initiative set out public health benchmarks for reopening Kentucky’s economy. These benchmarks closely follow the White House’s Guidelines for Reopening America.
Gov. Beshear said a foundational basis for safely reopening the economy requires a massive scaling up of testing capacity in the commonwealth.
Guidance for Health Care Practitioners and Facilities
On April 27, health care practitioners can resume non-urgent/emergent health care services, diagnostic radiology and lab services in:
- Hospital outpatient setting
- health care clinics and medical offices
- physical therapy settings, chiropractic offices and optometrists
- dental offices (but with enhanced aerosol protections)
This guidance does not apply to long-term care settings, prisons, other industries, or other settings for which separate guidance has already been provided or will be provided in the future. This guidance does not apply to elective surgeries or procedures, which will be addressed in a subsequent phase.
Telehealth
In all phases, healthcare practitioners should still maximize telehealth rather than in-person services.
Visitation
Healthcare facilities should still not allow visitors except when necessary in end-of-life situations, or for vulnerable populations or minors, and even then, visitations should be kept to a minimum.
Waiting Rooms
Healthcare facilities should also eliminate traditional waiting rooms or common seating areas and use non-traditional alternatives like a “parking lot lobby.”
Social Distancing
Healthcare facilities should maintain social distancing, keeping people at least six feet apart in all possible settings, and employ other steps to minimize direct contact between individuals within the health care setting.
Screening and Sanitization
Health care facilities should screen all healthcare workers, patients and others for temperature and COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival for shift or visit. Staff should be required to stay home if sick. Staff should plan for and ensure enhanced workplace sanitizing, enhanced hand hygiene compliance, and easily accessible hand sanitizer throughout the facility.
Personal Protective Equipment
Each healthcare setting must be able to procure necessary PPE via normal supply chains.
All healthcare providers and staff must wear surgical/procedural masks and gloves while in the office/facility.
All patients and other persons in the healthcare office/facility must:
- Wear a surgical/procedural mask while in health care facility
- Wear either a surgical/procedural mask or cloth mask/face covering in all other health care settings
Special Considerations
In high-touch clinical settings (e.g., physical therapy, chiropractic, etc.), healthcare workers should wear non-latex gloves in addition to enhanced hand hygiene practices. Any objects and contact surfaces used for clinical services should be sanitized between patients.
In high-aerosol risk outpatient settings (e.g., dentistry, oral surgery, pulmonary services, etc.), we seek additional input from these professionals regarding steps to assure the safety of both their patients and clinical staff.
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
