Message from Sheridan Memorial Hospital:

As a result of our joint planning efforts related to COVID-19, Sheridan Memorial Hospital and its Medical Staff have made the determination that they will suspend elective surgical procedures for the foreseeable future. This decision supports guidance from the CDC, the Surgeon General and the American College of Surgeons and comes as the result of critical and thoughtful discussion between Hospital and Medical Staff Leaders, including our surgeons and anesthesiologists.

Through this discussion and planning, it has been our goal to protect the resources we have to care for patients, such as gowns, gloves and masks and to protect the healthcare workers themselves from unnecessary contact with the disease. We would like to have these clinical personnel and personal protective equipment (PPE) available to test symptomatic patients and to care for acutely ill patients in our hospital should the outbreak impact our community severely. If you are scheduled for a surgical procedure, your physician will be in contact with you to discuss options and your specific circumstances.

In addition, SMH is preparing protocols for screening and triage of all patients and visitors at all entrances into the hospital and clinics on the SMH campus. To protect our vulnerable patients and staff, we request visitors with cough, fever or shortness of breath or other respiratory symptoms (i.e. runny nose or flu-like symptoms) to stay home unless requiring medical treatment. We will start screening all visitors and patients at entry points to the hospital and clinics. Patients who must come to the hospital for treatment will be limited to one support person over the age of 18.

If you are concerned about symptoms you are having, please call our dedicated COVID-19 phone line at 307-672-1004.