KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center is screening all patients and staff members before they enter the building.
The Health Center constructed two containment areas. The first area is located at its main entrance for patients. Another containment area is located downstairs for medical staff. Both are sealed off from the main building.
"We want our patients to feel safe and secure and know that everyone is getting screened," Dr. Toni Zink said.
Medical staff wearing personal protective equipment take every person's temperature. Patients are required to fill out a form with information, including where they have been if they have traveled.
If a person has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, they are escorted into a "quarantine containment area." They are given a strep and flu test. If both tests come back negative they are tested for COVID-19, given a mask and sent home with instructions to self-quarantine until the results come back. Tests results, according to Zink, typically take 10 days.
"We have a lot of patients here who are high-risk. With diabetes, high blood pressure, diabetes, COPD, asthma. As well as children with asthma. We set this up to make sure our patients would stay healthy and stay safe," Zink said.
The areas are decontaminated with fog machines filled with disinfectant. The patient rooms and hallways are sprayed at least twice a day.
