BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — A Jackson County woman is frustrated after she was notified that she tested positive for COVID-19 nine days after being released from the hospital.
Sarah Dimaso went to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs on Oct. 30 complaining of stomach pains. Doctors admitted her overnight and had her to take two COVID-19 tests.
Dimaso told 41 Action News that her first COVID-19 test came back negative.
One day after being admitted, doctors discharged her on Oct. 31 before her second test results came back.
“I left the hospital around 3 or 4 in the afternoon and just rested," she said. "I have been about my normal business. I didn’t get any information, anything.”
Nine days later, Dimaso said she learned she tested positive for COVID-19, not from the hospital but from the Jackson County Health Department.
“I’ve been at work every day," Dimaso said. "I’ve been to a birthday party. I sent my daughter to school. I feel like we cannot get rid of COVID if no one is telling us. I was never even verbally told, 'You should quarantine until we get results. I was told nothing.'"
St. Mary’s Medical Center sent 41 Action News a statement acknowledging Dimaso’s delayed result.
“We acknowledge that the COVID-19 result was not given to the patient in a timely manner upon discharge and we have changed our protocol so that every patient is called same day with results, even if the patient has left our facility," the statement read, in part. "Delivering high quality healthcare is our top priority. We have taken this concern seriously and acted upon the information immediately."
The Jackson County Health Department said facilities that administer COVID-19 tests usually contact patients with results. The county health department then contacts those who have tested positive to do contact tracing.
According to county health officials, Dimaso's experience “does not happen often," but that wasn't very comforting.
“I don’t know how many people one person can expose, so it’s just disappointing," Dimaso said. "It’s so disappointing."
St. Mary’s Medical Center said it changed its protocols on Wednesday after learning of Dimaso’s experience. The hospital said it will now contact a patient who tests positive the day the result is received and also will make that information available in the patient portal.
The hospital will continue to refer all positive cases to the Jackson County Health Department for contact tracing.
Here is St. Mary’s Medical Center's full statement:
St. Mary’s Medical Center is committed to protecting the safety of our hospital patients, healthcare providers and community.
As with all patients pending a result, the patient was in enhanced precautions during the duration of the hospital stay. Proper precautions were followed during the patient’s screening and diagnostic care.
We acknowledge that the COVID-19 result was not given to the patient in a timely manner upon discharge and we have changed our protocol so that every patient is called same day with results, even if the patient has left our facility. Delivering high quality healthcare is our top priority. We have taken this concern seriously and acted upon the information immediately.
Due to medical privacy requirements and to protect identity, no further information will be released. Please respect the privacy of the patient and remember that one of our most important duties is to comply with HIPAA privacy laws.
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