Coronavirus (COVID-19): Maintaining a Safe and Effective Care Environment
A safe and effective care environment is our highest priority, and Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) hospitals and medical practices have undertaken the necessary steps to protect our patients, visitors and workforce as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation evolves.
Know Before You Go
If you seek care at the Emergency Department at HealthAlliance: Broadway Campus or HealthAlliance: Mary's Avenue Campus, members of WMCHealth, and feel you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please call 845-3313131 x2411 PRIOR to your arrival.
Visitation
Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, new visitation restrictions will be in effect. Patients at HealthAlliance: Broadway Campus and HealthAlliance: Mary's Avenue Campus, will not be allowed visitors. Pediatric patients, and Labor and Delivery patients, will be allowed one designated support person. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances, including those receiving end-of-life care.
We are now using thermal scanning to check all approved visitors for fever. To protect the health and safety of our patients and our workforce, you must also protect your own health to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
WMCHealth protocols during this time require that all visitors are fever-free for at least 72 hours before entering the hospital.
While a fever is a symptom of COVID-19 – it can also be a symptom of many other illnesses. If you are concerned about your fever, please reach out directly to your primary care physician. We will continue to scan any approved visitors for fever. Once you are fever free for 72 hours and without symptoms of illness, you can return for screening, and then visitation after screening.
While visitor restrictions are in place there are other methods to facilitate communication, such as phone, Facetime, and others. We are happy to work with your loved one on this.
Our Plans for Care
All WMCHealth hospitals and medical practices have long-standing and the most up-to-date protocols in place to respond to infectious diseases. These protocols include, but are not limited to, strict adherence to care guidelines, protective attire and the use of negative-pressure environments to contain airborne pathogens. We routinely train our staff on these protocols and protocol adherence is monitored by infection prevention specialists.
As an added safety precaution, multilingual signs are present at key hospital entry points asking patients and visitors to share their potential for exposures, such as recent travel, symptoms and local exposure
If a patient arrives at a WMCHealth member hospital or medical practice with a suspicion of COVID-19 exposure or if key symptoms are present, the patient will be masked and escorted to an isolated and contained area for additional evaluation and care in cooperation with public health agencies, such as the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Testing for COVID-19 is conducted by the DOH, CDC and select centers only. After a thorough examination and in consultation with public health agencies, it would be determined if the patient’s condition warranted hospitalization or release under DOH oversight with strict, DOH-imposed isolation instructions and regular DOH monitoring.
Our Commitment
WMCHealth is committed to providing a safe and comfortable care environment for patients, their families and our staff at all of our member hospitals and medical practices throughout the Hudson Valley. Our care specialists are working collaboratively with public health agencies and closely monitoring COVID-19 developments.
Please call the DOH’s coronavirus hotline at 888.364.3065 or visit Health.NY.Gov for additional information and prevention tips.
Updated: March 18, 2020
Providing patient-focused care for more than 110 years!
The Broadway Campus is a secular, not-for-profit hospital serving the health care needs of everyone in our community. Founded in 1894, the Broadway Campus’ 150-bed acute care hospital provides medical/surgical care, ambulatory surgery care, diagnostic imaging, emergency services, obstetrics rehabilitation, and acute and chronic renal dialysis services.
Backed by a dedicated and experienced staff, the Broadway Campus provides accessible patient-focused care, guided by a commitment to continuous improvement, compassionate care and quality service in everything we do.
Contact Information
HealthAlliance Hospital: Broadway Campus
396 Broadway
Kingston, NY 12401
Get Directions
845.331.3131