SVH COVID-19 Community Weekly Update
As we reported last week, early and aggressive efforts to flatten the curve seem to be working in Sonoma Valley to slow the rate of community transmission of new cases and hospitalizations related to COVID-19. While the need to carefully test and track patients in our region will likely continue for some time, we anticipate the hospital may be able to begin reinstituting some elective services in the near future, and we have this week expanded availability of some essential services such as wound care and physical therapy.
We will begin reopening services on a phased-basis once we meet the following criteria established by public health authorities:
- When we experience 14 consecutive days with a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases in Sonoma County and the nine Bay Area counties.
- When the shelter in place guidance allows in-person elective healthcare and surgeries/procedures to resume.
It will likely take weeks to fully return to normal operations. In the meantime, we will continue maintaining the COVID-19 screening hotline and drive-through testing for all symptomatic outpatients.
SVH’s essential services such as outpatient diagnostic testing, rehabilitation (Physical, Speech, and Hand Therapy), wound care, Occupational Health, and infusions continue to be available, and our Emergency Department remains open 24/7. When you arrive at the hospital for care, we ask that you bring your own facial covering if you have one. If not, we will provide one for you. We also ask that you follow distancing directions specified in our waiting rooms.
We will continue to update our community on the re-opening of elective hospital services through our physicians, news and community outreach channels, and on our website at sonomavalleyhospital.org.
Testing By the Numbers: Through April 23, 2020
COVID-19 Screening Hotline New Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Calls made to the hospital’s COVID-19 Screening Hotline, 707.935.5440, will be answered by a Registered Nurse between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, seven days a week. Calls made before 8:00 am and after 4:00 pm will receive a prerecorded message asking the caller to either call back the next day or, if immediate attention is needed, to call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
During the evaluation, if it is determined that testing is indicated, patients will be given an appointment for the drive-through screening site where testing occurs. The appointment-only testing is located in the north entrance parking area of the hospital (just west of Third Street West off of Andrieux Street).
Antibody Testing
The hospital has received many questions from the community regarding antibody testing and our Chief Medical Officer, Sabrina Kidd, M.D., is actively investigating the feasibility of offering this test. She reports that the availability, accuracy, and utility of these tests are still in the development phase and that more time is needed before we can be confident of their accuracy. She said the hospital will follow the lead of UCSF, along with following CDC and California Department of Public Health guidelines on this test. At this point, we anticipate using this testing for diagnostic purposes in thefuture, and we will communicate updates on this through our news and community outreach channels.
Information Is Available On Our Website
We encourage you to take care of yourself and your family members by following government guidelines, including maintaining social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene. Information on recommended practices is available on our website. As we navigate through this situation together, we will provide regular updates at our website and through our email and social media communications.