BOISE, Idaho — Saint Alphonsus Health System is making several changes due to the rapidly changing environment caused by COVID-19. The changes are being made to protect the health of patients, hospital staff and the community.
Saint Alphonsus is now offering drive up assessments at the Meridian Health Plaza at 3025 West Cherry Lane. Respiratory screening is available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If a patient arrives at a screening location but does not meet the criteria for testing, they will be provided education on virus prevention and risk factors.
Additional assessment locations in Boise, Nampa and Fruitland are under consideration and will be announced at a later date.
The health system has also established a COVID-19 triage phone line at 208-302-2683. Nurses will answer questions about symptoms, screening locations, risk factors, prevention and more. The hotline will be answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Patients may also find care for mild conditions using MyeVisit online urgent care, a service staffed by Saint Alphonsus healthcare providers. From home, patients can initiate a virtual visit using their smartphone or tablet. To learn more, click here.
Visitor guidance is changing at Saint Alphonsus hospitals in Boise, Nampa, Ontario and Baker City. Effective immediately, and until further notice, all routine visiting will be suspended at hospital campuses. Exceptions will be made for the following patient groups:
- Pediatrics
- Maternity for the birth of a child
- Neonatal ICU
- Critically ill patients in the ICU
- Certified medical interpreters needed to help a patient communicate with healcare workers
- End of life care
Based on guidance from the CDC, visitors admitted to Saint Alphonsus facilities will still need to meet the following guidelines:
- Vistitors with respiratory symptoms (cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, congestion) or fever above 100.4 degrees F. will be provided a mask and asked to return home or seek medical attention
- One visitor per patient at a time
- No visitors under 18 years
- Do not visit if you are sick
Families are encouraged to connect with patients by phone or the use of other technology, such as FaceTime or Skype. The use of the cafeteria facilities at all Saint Alphonsus hospitals will be limited to colleagues and approved visitors.
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center will no longer offer valet parking services in order to protect colleagues. Saint Alphonsus will have a shuttle service available to transport patients from the parking lots.
Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and at the suggestion of the United States Surgeon General, Saint Alphonsus made the decision to postpone all elective and non-emergent surgeries and invasive procedures until further notice.
All these actions are being implemented out of an abundance of caution to ensure access to critical resources required for the care of all patients in the facilities. It is necessary to protect patients, hospital staff and visitors from acquiring or transmitting COVID-19 while under care.
As the region’s most advanced Level II trauma center, Saint Alphonsus will continue to perform urgent and emergent surgery and procedures, including those that if delayed would have significant medical deterioration or materially impact the patient’s prognosis, morbidity or treatment plan, as determined by the patient’s surgeon.
