Saint Alphonsus – Baker City Maintains COVID-19 Safeguards
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER CITY – (Release provided by Saint Alphonsus) While applauding Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order removing most COVID-19 mandatory restrictions and opening Oregon’s economy, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City President Priscilla Lynn is reminding patients and visitors that certain restrictions remain in place at Saint Alphonsus’ facilities.
“Governor Brown’s order allows healthcare facilities to continue following federal guidance on masking, social distancing, hand hygiene and visitation,” Lynn said. “We are concerned about the spread of mutant virus strains in Oregon, and therefore will continue to adhere to the federal standards.”
Saint Alphonsus reviews SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) prevalence in surrounding communities daily. While active cases per 100,000 exceeds 50 (Baker County = 242) consistent with moderate prevalence, the hospital must continue to protect patients, visitors, and staff by limiting visitation, following screening procedures at entrances and requiring all patients, visitors and staff to follow masking requirements within the facility.
Consistent with the decrease in COVID-19 prevalence in Eastern Oregon, Saint Alphonsus facilities in Oregon currently permit non-COVID patients to have at least one visitor with more liberal policy for pediatric and obstetrical patients and compassionate cases.
While many Eastern Oregon residents are vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, federal standards direct healthcare settings to follow these practices regardless of vaccination status. Although fully vaccinated individuals are at low risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19, for purposes of infection prevention visitors must be considered as potential asymptomatic carriers of the COVID-19 virus.
About Saint Alphonsus Health System
As a faith-based Catholic ministry and not-for-profit health system, Saint Alphonsus Health System reinvests in the communities we serve, through charity care and other benefits. Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of people by emphasizing care that is patient-centered, physician-led, innovative and community-based. Saint Alphonsus Health System serves the people of southwestern Idaho, eastern Oregon and northern Nevada through these facilities: Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center – Boise, ID; Saint Alphonsus Regional Rehabilitation Hospital – Boise, ID, a joint venture with Encompass Health; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Nampa, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario, OR; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City, OR; and Saint Alphonsus Medical Group with primary and specialty care providers at over 70 clinic locations, all of which are members of the Saint Alphonsus Health Alliance, a network of over 2100 employed and independent providers. Saint Alphonsus is a proud member of Trinity Health, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Trinity Health serves people and communities in 22 states from coast to coast with 94 hospitals and 122 continuing care facilities, home health and hospice programs, and PACE center locations. To find out more go to: www.saintalphonsus.org
