BALLINGER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL DISTRICT HEALTHCARE UPDATE
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
March 27, 2020
In light of the pandemic of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), Ballinger Memorial Hospital District (‘BMHD’) provides the following information for its patients and their caregivers / family members, as well as the general public. All entities of BMHD including Ballinger Memorial Hospital, Ballinger EMS, Ballinger Hospital Clinic, and Keel Drug Store are operating fully with the below modifications in place to protect patients, visitors, staff, and the general public.
Ballinger Memorial Hospital (BMH), 325-365-2531
- PATIENTS WITH LIFE-THREATENING / EMERGENT NEEDS should call 911 for assistance as normal.
IF PATIENTS WITH LIFE-THREATENING / EMERGENT NEEDS ARE BROUGHT TO BMH BY PRIVATE CAR, patients should be brought to the Emergency Room (ER) Entrance under the awning located to the left of the front door of BMH (Broadway / Hwy. 158 side). Enter via Broadway / Hwy. 158. Push ER call button to the left of the ER doors for assistance. See map below for entry:
- Those with NON LIFE-THREATENING / EMERGENT NEEDS who need care in the BMH Emergency Room should call BMH at 325-365-2531 to be provided with instructions for being seen. Please carefully follow these instructions for your protection as well as the protection of others. See map above for entry and parking.
- In accordance with State guidelines for hospitals, all inpatient patients, including Acute and Swing-Bed / Skilled Nursing, are limited to one visit per day by the patient’s one designated visitor. For all inpatients, the designated visitor must be over age 16. Additionally, all other hospital patient types including, but not limited to, outpatient (lab, radiology, etc.) and emergency room are also limited to one essential caregiver / family member.
- All patients and visitors to BMH will be screened for fever and required to answer questions recommended by State guidelines before entry into the facility. The questions you will be asked are:
- Are you experiencing a fever (or hot to touch in room temperature), difficulty breathing, cough, shortness of breath, and / or other symptoms of respiratory illness (for example flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, or like symptoms of these conditions)?
- In the last 14 days, have you traveled outside the country OR to an area where COVID-19 is widespread OR more than 100 miles from Ballinger, TX?
- In the last 14 days, have you had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed positive of COVID-19 OR someone who is under quarantine for suspected COVID-19?
- Are you currently under investigation / isolation / quarantine for COVID-19 by public health?
Ballinger Hospital Clinic (BHC), 325-365-5737
- Though we still accept walk-in patients, we strongly discourage this practice during this time and ask that you call BHC to schedule an appointment. We will continue same day appointments as available, but ask that you call and schedule to lessen your wait time in the lobby.
- FEVER / COUGH symptom patients should call BHC, give their symptoms and be provided with instructions for being seen. Please carefully follow these instructions for your protection as well as the protection of others.
- BHC patients are limited to being accompanied by one essential caregiver / family member.
- All patients and visitors to BHC will be screened for fever and required to answer questions recommended by State guideline before entry into the facility.
- Are you experiencing a fever (or hot to touch in room temperature), difficulty breathing, cough, shortness of breath, and / or other symptoms of respiratory illness (for example flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, or like symptoms of these conditions)?
- In the last 14 days, have you traveled outside the country OR to an area where COVID-19 is widespread OR more than 100 miles from Ballinger, TX?
- In the last 14 days, have you had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed positive of COVID-19 OR someone who is under quarantine for suspected COVID-19?
- Are you currently under investigation / isolation / quarantine for COVID-19 by public health?
Keel Drug, 325-365-3505
- Effective Monday, March 30th, the Keel Drug lobby doors will be closed until further notice. However, Keel Drug will remain open in full operation and follow normal hours of business – Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. Prescriptions may be dropped off and picked up, as well as over the counter items purchased, via the drive-thru window.
- For new prescriptions or refill approvals, ask your provider to use E-Prescribe or call Keel Drug.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation of these requirements. It is BMHD’s intention to limit its spacing primarily to patients during this time in accordance with State guidelines. Those needing routine care or who have standing orders are encouraged to discuss the care with their healthcare provider to determine whether the care should be performed as scheduled or postponed. Either way, BMHD is here for you today and shall be here tomorrow for all your healthcare needs. For more information about COVID-19, please visit:
Please know our top priorities during this time are your health and well-being and those of our tremendous team caring for you. Your help, understanding, and patience during this challenging time will better ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff and help contain the global outbreak.
Ballinger Memorial Hospital (BMH), 325-365-2531
