FAQ’s | Latest Press Release | Latest ADHS Case Count
Hospital Entrance – Curbside Registration Only
Out of an abundance of caution and to create a safe and secure environment, the Rose Lane Entrance to the hospital is temporarily closed. All patients are being asked to use the Bralliar Road Entrance, and park in a numbered parking space for curbside registration prior to entering the hospital. Bralliar Entrance is open Monday through Friday 6AM – 6PM, closed nights and weekends.
Curbside Registration / Check-in Instructions will be provided upon scheduling services:
- For Diagnostic Appointments: 928-668-1803
- For X-Ray and Lab Draw Procedures: 928-615-3572
- Rehabilitation Services – 928-684-5529
The Southwest Entrance leading to the Pharmacy and Infusion Center on Rose Lane is still open for patients needing Pharmacy or Infusion services.
AMBULANCE & EMERGENCY WALK-IN ENTRANCE REMAIN OPEN FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES ONLY
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. In severe cases some patients have pneumonia in both lungs, multi-organ failure and in some cases death.There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine at this time.
People can help protect themselves from respiratory illness with everyday preventive actions.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
When to Seek Medical Attention (Maricopa.gov)
If you feel like your symptoms are worsening, especially if you have difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider or seek medical attention.
In adults, emergency warning signs include: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, bluish lips or face. This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your symptoms and any recent travel. This will help them prepare for your arrival so that they can take steps to reduce symptom exposure to themselves and other patients.
Primary Care – 928-668-1833 – Providers are available Monday – Friday 8am to 5pm. Telehealth Visits are also being offered.
Emergency Care – 928-684-5421 – Providers are available 24/7 – If you are experiencing an emergency please dial 911.
COVID-19 CONFIRMED CASES
As of September 23rd, 2020 Arizona Department of Health Services confirms the following COVID-19 cases: (This is a rapidly-evolving situation and the risk assessment may change daily.)
- Reported for the State of Arizona today – 438 new cases and 27 new deaths – 10.6% Total Percent Positive.
- 140,409 individuals in Maricopa County
- 2,495 individuals Yavapai County
- 1-10 individuals in Yarnell (85362)
- 12 individuals in Congress (85332)
- 13 individuals in Morristown (85342)
- 87 individuals in Wickenburg (85390)
- 66 individuals in Aguila (85320)
- 166 individuals in Wittmann (85361)
Arizona Community Spread: Widespread
Number of Cases in Arizona: 215,284
Number of Deaths in Arizona: 5,525
Latest Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Brenda Crissman
Public Information Officer
Wickenburg Community Hospital
brenda.crissman@wickhosp.com
928-684-3219
WICKENBURG (June 26, 2020) – Wickenburg Community Hospital and Clinics (WCH) urge community members to adhere to Maricopa County Department of Public Health’s (MCDPH) strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19. According to Karen Smith, infection prevention manager for WCH, “Out of the 244 patients we have tested for COVID-19, fifteen have tested positive and one resulting in hospitalization”.
“An uptick in positive local COVID-19 cases is consistent with what is being reported nationally”, said Brenda Crissman, public information officer for WCH. “The public is encouraged to follow Maricopa County Department of Public Health recommendations to help slow the spread of the disease”.
MCDPH reported current data for Maricopa County cases show a different picture of disease spread than was seen earlier in the pandemic. As of this week, Maricopa County is now averaging just over 1,800 new COVID-19 cases reported each day, a six-fold increase over the number of cases being reported six weeks ago. Additionally, more than half of all reported cases are in people age 20-44, up from one-third previously. This is likely the result of increased exposure for that age group when at work or in public places reported MCDPH.
“I want everyone in Maricopa County to understand that every adult has an equal chance of getting infected if exposed to COVID-19, and we can all spread it to people who are at higher risk of severe illness and send them to the hospital even if we just have mild illness,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director for disease control at MCDPH. With COVID-19 spreading rapidly through the community, MCDPH is focusing efforts on three public health tactics that are critical to controlling disease spread: case investigation and contact tracing, social distancing, and mask wearing.
“All positive COVID-19 cases are investigated and contact tracing is performed by the health department. As infection prevention manager, I investigate and perform contact tracing for hospital and clinic employees”, said Smith. “Maricopa County data is showing approximately 40% of all COVID-19 cases do not show symptoms so the benefit of social distancing is that people are not exposed unknowingly by being around people who appear healthy but are infectious. Mask wearing is important when people cannot practice social distancing”.
COVID-19 is spread when people spend more than 10 minutes within six feet of a person who is infected. By practicing social distancing – that is minimizing close contact with people outside of their household, individuals can reduce their exposures and slow the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Maricopa County.
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FAQ’s :
Q: If a spouse or friend was exposed to a COVID person do I need to do a 14 day self quarantine?
A: No, but you need to let Employee Health know there is a potential exposure. The EH nurse will speak with you to determine if you need to start the 14 day temperature and symptom checklist until there are results back from the suspect COVID exposed person. If the suspect person’s test is negative, you will no longer need to continue the temperature and symptom log but if the test is positive, then you will continue to do the log and check in with Employee Health for the 14 days.
Q: Why are we seeing employees and patients test positive now when we did not for so long?
A: Testing criteria and availability has expanded which allows for more people to be tested. Arizona is conducting a Testing Blitz to try and get 30,000 Arizonians tested over 3 weekends. This testing helps us identify more cases but also enables us to see where these cases live because testing results are reported out now by zip code and not just the county where the patient lives.
Q: Why do they report tests by zip code?
A: The more information we collect on positive cases allows us to evaluate if and where we are seeing more cases of COVID. Reviewing this data allows us to get services to that area to help the community as well as trying to collect epidemiological data on the virus and its transmission.
Q: Why did it take so long for Wickenburg and its surrounding areas to see cases?
A: Part of the answer is that we have the capability to test more people. Previously guidance did not encourage providers to swab patients with suspect cases if they had mild illness. Providers instead advised patients to self quarantine. Now testing is more readily available and we can test even those cases with mild illness. The other half of the answer is that the Governor’s Executive Order recommended the closing of some businesses, encouraged social distancing, limited the size of gatherings, recommended the use of masks in public areas and encouraged hand hygiene. All of these measures helped to delay the spread of the virus.
Q: Is the virus getting worse in AZ?
A: What we can tell is that expanded testing is identifying more cases but the number of cases where patients are sick enough to be in the hospital had had a downward trend for the last three weeks. If we all continue to do the right things, like washing our hands, maintaining social distancing, wearing masks in public areas, we hope to see the numbers of cases continue to decrease.
Q: Is anyone following up on positive cases in AZ?
A: Yes, AZ has a robust system in place where trained health department staff, usually nurses, are contacting positive cases and doing what is called Contact Investigation or Contact tracing. This means each case is interviewed to try and determine who the positive person has been in contact with and then questions around trying to determine how the person may have developed the virus. By doing these investigations, we implement measures to reduce further spread of illness from the positive person to others and we can facilitate additional services or care to the patient they may need. All of these investigations help us to learn more about the virus.
Q: Do contact investigations happen at the hospital?
A: Yes our infection preventionist is involved in working with the positive person, county health and the patient’s provider. The role of the infection preventionist is also assigned the task to determine if additional staff at the hospital may have had contact with the positive person. Often times it is difficult to determine if a single employee or multiple employees may have been exposed. If there is the potential for multiple exposures, the IP nurse may ask all employees in a department to complete the 14 day exposure log.
In fact, this process is used for multiple infectious disease cases. Remember, as a hospital we encounter sick patients daily. It may take time for testing results to come back before we know a patient came through our doors who had an infection. But whenever that occurs and it is a disease that could be infectious and is on the reportable disease list, the IP investigates and implements protocols that are designed to reduce the chance of employee exposure.
Q: Who do I talk to if I have questions?
A: Please feel free to bring any questions or concerns around COVID to Karen Smith, Infection Prevention and Employee Health Manager
Additional Resources:
Maricopa County CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) updates are also available.
The CDC has great tools and information, please review below.