MISSOULA – Partnership Health Center learned Sept. 3 that a member of their clinical staff tested positive for COVID-19. PHC Communication Director Eric Halverson confirmed that this does not affect the staff at the Seeley-Swan Medical Center.
PHC is working closely with the Missoula City-County Health Department to identify close contacts as they rigorously adhere to all required quarantine and isolation protocols. The Health Department will individually and privately notify any patient determined to be a close contact; patients should not contact PHC or the Health Department to inquire if they qualify as a close contact.
In a press release from PHC, it stated patient and staff safety is PHC’s highest priority. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, PHC has proactively and strictly followed CDC and health department guidance to keep their patients, staff and community safe. They have implemented safety measures including a mask requirement for all people in their facilities, glass barriers, symptom screening for everyone entering the facilities and frequent sanitation of high-touch areas.
Further, all staff are required to check and log their temperatures and COVID-related symptoms at the start of their workday. If a staff member reports any symptoms of any illness or symptoms that might be concerning for COVID, they are required to report directly to clinical leadership for immediate evaluation and removal from work. Staff members are cleared to return to work when all necessary steps have been completed for full compliance with CDC and health department guidelines.
“Every decision is made to ensure the highest possible level of safety for our staff and patients,” read the press release.
The safety measures described above allowed PHC to successfully identify and isolate the affected staff member on the first day symptoms appeared. The affected staff member did not interact with any patients while exhibiting symptoms.
PHC facilities remain open and PHC said their services remain available and safe.
Reader Comments(0)