Rhinelander--Ascension-St. Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander has become the second location in the region for an outpatient respiratory care site dedicated to care for COVID-19 suspect or confirmed patients.
Ascension Medical Group spokesperson Tom Weaver says with an anticipated surge of coronavirus patients, Ascension wants to be able to handle the influx while also protecting the rest of the hospital. He says like their drive-through testing, people will need to be prescreened. He says registered nurses will talk to the person.
The facility gives some options...
"First of which would be a simple appointment at a drive-through testing site to get tested. if there's been a history of respiratory or other things that this respiratory care site at St. Mary's is another option, or the third option would be, this is something more serious, we recommend you go to the emergency department..."
The new site will have it's own entrance and will be away from the rest of the hospital says Weaver....
"This really is trying to get these respiratory cases into a more confined location within the clinic that some of our well-clinic patients, prenatal moms or pediatricians or some of those folks can continue with some of their normal appointments..."
Patients can be screened for respiratory illness care by calling (715-361-4850) or by contacting their local Ascension Medical Group provider office, or via Ascension Online Care.
Weaver says this approach will minimize exposure and possible spread of the virus for both the public and health care workers. Once prescreened, the providers can then use personal protection equipment to check on the patient. The Rhinelander respiratory care site is the second, with an Ascension facility in Stevens Point beginning it's site last week.
