May 8, 2020
Community Update #7


Dear Community Member,

In accordance with Governor Phil Scott’s announcement earlier this week, it gives me great pleasure to share with you our reopening plans for several key BMH service areas! All of our efforts over the past two months have been directed to ensure your and our staff’s safety and prevention of Covid19. Our Operational Recovery Plan will have this same level of commitment, scrutiny and focus. We will have a phased approach to this work and have involved our Medical Staff and Hospital Leadership in the development and implementation of each of these steps.

Over the next few weeks the following areas will reopen: 

Outpatient Procedures/Ambulatory Surgery will resume Monday, May 18 . Scheduling for these procedures is now commencing; please contact your physician’s office for specific instructions related to our pre-operative process. 

BMH Medical Group practices are working on re-establishing their pre-Covid19 practice locations by Monday, June 1 . In the interim, please call your clinician’s office to schedule an appointment. All offices, especially waiting areas, are being reconfigured to ensure social distancing and are implementing procedures to minimize the spread of Covid19.

Mammography, Bone Densitometry and Wound Care will be re-established by Monday, June 1 .

Additionally, I want to highlight the following:
        
With a significant number of patient visits conducted over the past two months using Telehealth , we are working on creating a more robust platform for this service.

We will be maintaining our Screening Protocols at our entrances. Our screeners will ask you to use hand sanitizer, will take your temperature as well as ask several general health questions. If you do not have a mask, a donated handmade one will be offered to you. Please take it with you and use it when out in the community. At this time, the Medical Office Building and Richards Building entrances remain closed.

Our Visitor Policy will continue to limit visitors to the following:   
  • One parent or guardian for a patient under the age of 18 
  • One birthing partner for a patient in labor 
  • One person at a time for a hospice or end of life patient 
  • One clergy member for an end of life patient 
  • One caretaker for a completely dependent patient 
 
We are continuing our efforts to re-establish all other areas and services provided by BMH and I will communicate those plans in future updates. In closing, I want to express my continued appreciation for your support of our staff and your hospital during this unique period in our 116 year history.  
Steven R. Gordon
President & CEO