Four SignatureCare Emergency Center Locations Now Offering COVID-19 Screenings to All ER Patients
The 24-hour emergency center operator says it has begun screening all emergency room patients in its Stafford, Midland, Killeen, and TC Jester (Houston Heights), TX emergency rooms for coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
HOUSTON, April 20, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- SignatureCare Emergency Center has announced that four of its 17 emergency room locations have begun screening all patients to the ER for coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
To ensure the safety of patients, their families and the ER staff, the company has set up outside tents to screen all visitors to its Stafford, Midland, Killeen, and TC Jester (Houston Heights), TX emergency rooms. SignatureCare Emergency Center announced that it is also collecting samples from patents for COVID-19 laboratory testing at the tents.
SignatureCare Emergency Center said the purpose of the outside screening is to ensure minimal community transmission of the coronavirus pandemic and to keep the community safe.
"It's all about safety for the community. The goal is to limit the number of potential transmissions for our patients when they and their families visit our emergency centers," said Dr. Hashibul Hannan, a board-certified emergency room physician and managing partner at SignatureCare Emergency Center.
"We know COVID-19 is highly contagious and can be transmitted even when you are asymptomatic, so this is just one of the critical steps we are taking to protect the community and our staff," he added.
Besides these screenings, the company has taken other steps including enforcing wearing of masks for everyone in the emergency centers, equipping all centers with HEPA air filtration, and complete sanitization of furniture and equipment after each patient use.
"We are taking extra precautions to make sure that our community stays safe during this outbreak. Everyone including our staff, patients and their family members wear masks while in the facility. We also enforce hand hygiene for everyone. All our facilities are equipped with HEPA air filtration and every room, and furniture is sanitized before patients enter the rooms," Dr. Hannan said.
He added that all linens in all emergency rooms are changed for every new patient.
"We also have a negative pressure isolation room available in each facility should one be needed. At SignatureCare Emergency Center, we go beyond the minimum standard required for the safety of our patients and staff."
On other steps taken by SignatureCare Emergency Center locations to protect patients and their families, Dr. Hannan said that as soon as patients arrive, they are taken directly to private rooms with minimal contact with other patients and visitors.
"We know that hospital waiting rooms are crowded with possible COVID-19 patients. We, however, take you directly to a private room, to minimize contact with others and protect your health," he said.
Dr. Hannan advised all patients to call the emergency center before arriving at the ER if they suspect they might have COVID-19 infection.
"If you have fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please call ahead so that we can escort you in through our ambulance bay to minimize the spread of COVID-19 to others. We are also able to provide diagnostic testing and treatment of major and minor injuries or illnesses," he added.
About SignatureCare Emergency Center
SignatureCare Emergency Center owns 24-hour emergency centers throughout Texas including nine locations in the Houston area (Montrose, Houston Heights, Cypress/FM 1960, Copperfield, Memorial City, Westchase, Bellaire, Mission Bend/Sugar Land and Stafford), Killeen, Austin, College Station, Paris, Midland, Odessa, Texarkana and our newest location in Lewisville, TX.
Additional information is on our website at https://ercare24.com.
SOURCE SignatureCare Emergency Center
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