Integris Health Releases Statement Concerning Coronavirus

Medical professionals in the United States are gearing up for the potential spread of a new coronavirus sweeping the globe.

In Oklahoma, Integris Health released a statement for how they are monitoring the global outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19): 

"We are monitoring the global crisis daily, meaning our Infection Prevention and Health and Safety teams are keeping up to date on information provided by the following entities: World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Ebola Training and Education Center, Oklahoma State Department of Health and OKC-County Health Department.

"We continue to improve our processes based on available data and recommendations from these groups. For example, we have added travel questions to our regular screening and triage practices. Patients who have recently traveled to any of the impacted areas, or have been in contact with someone who has, will be flagged. If a patient met this criteria and signs or symptoms of COVID, they would be placed in isolation rooms, or private rooms if isolation rooms are unavailable, to minimize exposure to others, including caregivers. Plans do exist for expanding our isolation capability to units, wings or entire floors if needed.  At this time, we have not had anyone meet this criteria.

"In response to global impacts on the availability of personal protective equipment, like masks and gowns, we are emphasizing reduction of unnecessary waste. Our caregivers are being instructed to only use these items when necessary. We are also taking efforts to ensure we have appropriate supplies and medications that may be needed if the virus were to present in Oklahoma. We will continue to monitor local, national, and international disease progression to be able to identify when and how to potentially deploy additional precautions.

"In the meantime, we encourage our caregivers and our communities to use this opportunity to review your own personal preparedness plan. If you have a respiratory illness of any kind, we advise you to limit your exposure to others."

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