I Have COVID-19, Now What Do I Do?

COVID-19 Vaccine

Boundary Community Hospital is no longer offering vaccine clinics for new patients.

Panhandle Health District is responsible for distributing the vaccine in Boundary County. Specific information is available on their website https://panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/vaccine/

Best source of information and distribution for the State of Idaho: Health and Welfare Idaho COVID-19 Vaccination

Excellent information from the CDC about encouraging vaccines –Building Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines

Boundary Community Hospital COVID-19 Testing

CLOSED – due to staffing issues

Have COVID-19 Questions?

Panhandle Health COVID-19 Information Hotline 877-415-5225

Idaho COVID-19 Hotline 1-888-330-3010

Link to CDC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Checker

Using everyday preventive actions are the best way to stay ahead of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) is constantly being updated and there have been some vital changes to the healthcare requirements in the past few weeks but the most important instructions have remained the same.

Wash your hands frequently
Avoid touching your face, mouth, and nose;
Stay home if you are ill
Cover your cough/sneeze (Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette)

Boundary Community Hospital is ready. Boundary Community Hospital, Extended Care Facility (Nursing Home), and Boundary Community Clinics’ priority is the safety of our patients, their families, our staff and our community. While the COVID-19 Pandemic is very alarming, we have been practicing for Epidemics and Pandemics for years. We are well prepared for this one. These are some steps we have been taking to ensure the safety to all.

Minimize the chance for Exposure to other patients and staff
Strict adherence to Standard Precautions
Manage Visitor access and movement within the facilities (Acute, ED, Outpatient, Clinic, and ECF)
Ensure our personnel are trained and willing to care for a COVID-19 patient
Protocols in place for monitoring and managing ill or exposed personnel
Environmental Infection Prevention and Control measures are in place
Network with Panhandle Health Department, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Northwest Hospital Alliance, Boundary County Emergency Management Public Information Officer (PIO) and Boundary County School District

The Northwest Hospital Alliance includes: Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry, Benewah Community Hospital in St Maries, Bonner General Health in Sandpoint, Kootenai Health in Coeur D’Alene, Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg, Syringa Hospital and Clinics in Grangeville, Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino, and St. Mary’s Hospital in Cottonwood.

Visitor Protocols

VISITOR RESTRICTIONS are in place.
For the health of Patients and Staff, ALL VISITORS MUST COMPLY WITH FACILITY COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS – including wearing masks and other PPE as requested/required by nurse/provider, COVID-19 screening, temperature check, hand hygiene and social distancing.

AC Lobby remains closed with the exception of Surgery patients. If you have questions about visitors, please ask the AC Nurse on duty.
Acute Care: Visitor Restrictions are currently in place – Limited to Essential Visitors Only as approved by Nurse or Provider for the health of the patient in our care. All Hospital admissions (including Swing and Obs, as well as medical) are required to have COVID-19 testing – precautions shall be taken until test results are received from the BCH Lab.
Emergency: Visitor Restrictions are currently in place – Limited to Essential Visitors Only as approved by Nurse or Provider for the health of the patient in our care. Emergency visitors/family members enter through the Emergency door only and not through the AC Lobby.
Surgery: Visitor restrictions are in place. Visitors are allowed to stay in the lobby area to ensure good communication with the Surgeon and Surgery Team. All surgery patients are tested for COVID-19 prior to surgery.
ECF: Visiting is by schedule only. Contact the Nursing Home to schedule a visit.

COVID-19:

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses belonging to the family of Coronaviridae, which infect both animals and humans. Human coronaviruses can cause mild disease similar to a common cold, while others cause more severe disease (such as MERS – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and SARS – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). A new coronavirus that previously has not been identified in humans emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

Signs and symptoms include respiratory symptoms and include fever, cough and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome and sometimes death. High-risk patients for severe coronavirus disease are older and have comorbidities (other health issues).

Remember to stay home and call public health, or your healthcare provider directly, if you experience any of these symptoms. It is best for our healthcare providers to treat you over the phone. Additionally, the Emergency Department is not the treatment of choice for Covid-19, and should not be utilized unless your symptoms become severe or emergent.

The Panhandle Health District has a hotline dedicated to assisting the public. If you have any questions about coronavirus or think you may be displaying symptoms, call 1-877-415-5225.

Preventing COVID-19 spread in the community:

These are the everyday preventative actions you can take to avoid getting COVID-19 and from spreading the infection throughout the community.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Call in sick if you have a fever and/or signs of cold or flu.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you or your child gets sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs that can cause respiratory illnesses like flu.
If an outbreak of flu or another illness occurs, follow public health advice. This may include information about how to increase distance between people and other measures.
Wear a cloth face covering or mask to protect those around you.

STAY INFORMED:

This is a rapidly evolving situation. CDC will continue to update the public as circumstances warrant. Click on the Resource links for the latest information.

Stay informed – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is updating its website daily with the latest information and advice for the public (cdc.gov/ncov).

Protect those around you. Continue to take extra precautions if visiting someone or if you are living with someone who is at higher risk of severe illness. COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditionsmight be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

If you or somebody you know has recently returned from any areas of concern and start to feel sick with a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, seek medical care. Call First BEFORE you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

Since there is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for this virus, it is important to remember to take everyday preventive actions that are always recommended to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.

Travel: CDC recommendations as of May 28, 2020

Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Before you travel, learn if COVID-19 is spreading in your local area or in any of the places you are going. Traveling to visit family may be especially dangerous if you or your loved ones are more likely to get very ill from COVID-19. People at higher risk for severe illness need to take extra precautions. For more considerations see the webpage Coronavirus in the United States—Considerations for Travelers.