COVID-19 - What You Need to Know

ACCESS TO THE CARE YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT

Confluence Health is joining Washington’s 112 hospitals and health systems to launch an outreach campaign for the health and safety of members of our community.

Our community’s response to the COVID-19 has been nothing short of amazing. By staying home, you’ve saved lives. Lately though, we’re seeing the consequences of people staying away from health care. Please do not delay getting the health care you need.

As we continue to strive to decrease the number of COVID-19 cases in our community, we are taking steps to increase in-person visits to our hospital and clinics. We are also increasing our Virtual Visits capabilities for most of our clinics so that we can continue to serve patients for whom a virtual appointment is best.

Please remember that your safety and well-being is important to our health care team —and please know that your questions and concerns will be handled with care.

SCHEDULING VIRTUAL VISIT APPOINTMENTS

You may now schedule an appointment to consult with a primary or specialty care provider via phone conversation or by video conference through your MyChart account or app.

To schedule a virtual visit, please send a message through MyChart at mychart.confluencehealth.org or call: 509.663.8711.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VIRTUAL VISITS

COVID PATIENTS AT CENTRAL WASHINGTON HOSPITAL

Updated daily by 5:00pm Monday-Friday and reported to applicable Health Districts. As the regional health care provider, we sometimes treat COVID-19 patients from outside North Central Washington.

VISITING POLICY AT CONFLUENCE HEALTH

Our patient care philosophy recognizes the many benefits of engaging families and friends in the healing process. However, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been taking extra measures to protect our patients, visitors and staff, including restrictions on routine visiting at our Central Washington Hospital and Wenatchee Valley Hospital facilities.

Additionally, masks are now required at all of our outpatient facilities. If you are visiting for an appointment, you will be asked to wear a mask. If you do not have your own mask, one will be provided prior to you entering the building for your appointment. Please click here for homemade mask patterns if you are interested in making your own.

For our outpatient clinics, patients may have one support person over the age of 16 accompany them on their visit.

Patients in the Emergency Department and Walk-in Clinic may have one support person accompany them. We will ask all other friends and family to wait outside of the department and not in the waiting room.

At the current time, patients may have one visitor in the hospital per day, subject to the restrictions and exceptions described below. Visitation will be limited by each hospital’s visiting hours and policies.

Visitors will be screened at specified entry points for symptoms of respiratory illness. These symptoms include cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, and chills. Any visitor with these symptoms will not be allowed to enter Central Washington Hospital or Wenatchee Valley Hospital facilities. Only asymptomatic visitors will be allowed into hospital facilities. Visitation also is limited by each hospital’s visiting hours and policies. Overnight visitation (exception Pediatrics) must be at discretion of Department Leadership.

• Each visitor must wear a mask while in any hospital facility.
• No visitors under the age of 16 will be allowed.
• Patients who are under the age of 18 may have one visitor, or parents/guardians.
• In our childbirth units, patients will be allowed two healthy support persons with them during labor; two hours after delivery only one support person will be able to remain at the bedside, and the second person will be required to leave the hospital.
• Patients who are at the end of life may have two visitors:
  • End of life refers to a patient who is highly likely to die in the coming days and is not restricted to patients who are receiving palliative care.
  • Each unit manager has the discretion to limit the duration of the visit based on clinical considerations.
  • Visits from a minor are permissible if accompanied by a parent or guardian and approved by the care team.
• Patients who need a caregiver for safety because of their mental or developmental status or for their disability, such as hearing loss or vision impairment, may have one visitor in addition to their caregiver.
• Patients who require a home caregiver to be trained may have one visitor in addition to the caregiver.
• Community-based care providers, who are involved in the care of the patient, may visit for support and care continuity in addition to the patient’s one visitor.
• Members of the spiritual community may visit patients in addition to one visitor.
• Visitors may not remove supplies or equipment from the hospital.
• Confluence Health employees who have family members in the hospital are subject to the same restrictions on visitation.
• No visitors will be allowed in rooms of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who are being tested for COVID-19, except for end-of-life patients (see above).
• No other visitors will be allowed in any hospital facility at this time.

We appreciate your understanding as we continue to provide the safest possible environment for our patients, visitors and staff. Please talk to your healthcare team if you have any questions or concerns.

DIAGNOSIS OF COVID-19 AT CONFLUENCE HEALTH (FAQ)

I think I may be feeling symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection. What do I do?
To ensure the health and safety of yourself as well as your community, if you are exhibiting symptoms you feel may be consistent with COVID-19, we ask you DO NOT show up at your place of health care unannounced. Instead, please call 509.663.8711 so we may ask you a few questions that will best determine your course of care. Starting Monday, July 20, 2020 the COVID-19 Hotline hours will be Monday-Sunday 7:00am-4:00pm

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites:

Patients will still need to be pre-screened ahead of time. This can be done one of two ways:

1. Call the COVID Hotline Triage at 509.663.8711 option 1
2. Referred by a Primary Care Provider.

*Patients MUST be pre-screened.

Locations

• Wenatchee
  615 N. Emerson Ave.
  Wenatchee, WA, 98801
  Hours:
  Monday-Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
  Saturdays: 8:30am - 12:00pm
  Sundays: Closed
  No Appointment Needed (Order must be placed by Physician)
• Omak
  916 Koala Dr.,
  Omak, WA 98841
  Hours:
  Monday-Friday: COVID testing: 7:30am to 1:30pm
  No Appointment Needed (Order must be placed by Physician)
• Moses Lake
  840 E. Hill Ave.
  Moses Lake, WA 98837
  Hours:
  Monday – Friday: 8:30am-4:30pm
  Appointment Required – you will receive a call from our trained staff if you elect to be tested in Moses Lake (Order must be placed by Physician)

Starting Monday, July 20, 2020 the COVID-19 Hotline hours will be Monday-Sunday 7:00am-4:00pm

I know with certainty that I’ve been exposed to a person with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. What should I do?
Call our nurse triage hotline at 509.663.8711 if you develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19.

What is Confluence Health doing to ensure patients and visitors are safe?

Confluence Health’s Infection Control team continues to actively monitor the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation worldwide and at home. Our focus, always, is on illness prevention, and that remains at the core of our response to this and all health risks.

Have the number of public entrances been limited?

Yes, to help assist us in managing the new visitor limitations, we are limiting the number of public entrances to our faculties.

The following are specific times and public entrance/exit points for each facility:
Central Washington Hospital:
Screenings will take place from 8am to 8pm at the following entrances:

• Emergency Department Entrance (entrance open 24 hours a day and the ONLY entrance to CWH from 8pm – 8am
• Main Entrance
• Surgery and Procedures Entrance (green)

Note: All other entrances will be closed and have signs directing patients and visitors to the open entrances.

Wenatchee Valley Hospital & Clinics:

• Walk-in Clinic Entrance:
  • 7am to 7pm, seven days a week

Note: All other out-patient clinics – Main entrance access only during normal hours of business

Does Confluence Health Charge for COVID-19 Testing?

The Confluence Health price for the COVID-19 lab test is: $218. The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner has ordered all health plans regulated by his office to cover testing for COVID-19 without copays or deductibles.

It does not apply to the following plans:

• Employer plans that are self-funded
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Federal employee health plans
• Health plans for members of the military or veterans
• Uniform Medical Plan for state and school employees

While the cost of the COVID-19 test may be covered, some other medical care costs related to your illness depend on your insurance coverage.These medical costs could include other tests, such as testing for the flu or other respiratory illness.

For uninsured patients, our Patient Service representatives will assist you to see if you qualify for free COVID-19 test coverage by the state. Please call 509.436.4020, or toll free at 888.499.4801, for more information or if you have any other questions.

More information about health insurance and coronavirus is available on the Insurance Commissioners website.

How do I protect myself and my family?

For current information about COVID-19 and recommendations for keeping yourself and your family healthy, we recommend these resources:

• Centers for Disease Control
• Chelan- Douglas Health District

Social distancing can help slow the spread of COVID-19 in affected communities. This means avoiding crowded places and maintaining distance from others. More prevention tips: https://bit.ly/2QbLFkW

PPE (PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT) DONATIONS

Thank you for your generosity and offers to donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We, at Confluence Health, are overwhelmed with gratitude. We have created a resource web page with additional details and approved sewing patterns.
If you have PPE donations, they can be dropped off between 8:30 AM-4:00 PM, Monday-Thursday at the Confluence Health Foundation, 518 N. Chelan Avenue in Wenatchee. For questions call 509.436.6275.

PPE DONATION RESOURCE PAGE

Click here for other COVID-19 Patient Resources.