ROCK SPRINGS — Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County officials are urging the community to practice safe and healthy common sense among a nationwide shortage of nurses, beds, and the increased spread of the COVID-19 delta variant.

MHSC and its Incident Command team have taken measures to keep patients, staff and the community safe and healthy, said MHSC Incident Commander Kim White, Emergency Services Director.

“We are restricting visitors and tightening visitation policies,” White said. “If this perfect storm of delta variant, worker shortages and hospital capacity continues, we will have to go back to a policy of no visitors.”

Beginning today the hospital’s emergency room will not allow visitors unless the patient is younger than 18, cannot understand or make decisions for themselves, or require assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Yesterday was the worst day ever for COVID in the ER,” said Dr. Phillip Najm, Emergency Medical Director with University of Utah Health. “It was definitely worse than the peak we had in November.”

Visitation

Only people 18 or older are allowed to visit patient rooms, unless the individual is the parent of a pediatric patient. Here is a breakdown of the rules by department:

• At the entrance: Door monitors will continue to ask visitors to complete a questionnaire before entering the hospital to visit or for hospital services. For more on this, go to the “Coronavirus Update” page at sweetwatermemorial.com.
• ICU: COVID-19 positive patients are not allowed visitors. Non-COVID-19 patients may have one visitor per day.
• Emergency Room: As a result of the significant influx of COVID-19 patients needing emergency care, no visitors are allowed in the emergency room unless the patient is 18 or younger, cannot understand or make decisions for themselves, or require assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Medical/Surgical & Obstetrics: Patients are allowed two visitors each per day. Visitors cannot swap out during a single day; they must be the same two visitors. All visitors MUST wear a mask at all times and MUST remain in the patient’s room during their visit. This policy will continue as long as hospital leaders believe it is safe to do so.

Masks are required for anyone entering an MHSC facility, including its clinics and various departments. When possible, maintain a 6-foot distance.

“Please know, we are doing our best to apply restrictions as needed to maintain health and safety,” said MHSC Public Information Officer Deb Sutton. “And please, be kind to our staff. They are doing everything they can to keep patients and co-workers healthy.

COVID-19 Delta

MHSC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Melinda Poyer says the delta variant replicates faster and has a higher viral load than the initial
COVID-19 virus which impacts patient bed capacity regardless of the type of medical condition.

“When regional tertiary medical facilities are functioning at full capacity already, all causes of medical conditions present substantial challenges for admission and transport”

MHSC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Melinda Poyer

If you are not fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all people age 2 or older wear a mask in indoor public places. In areas with high numbers of COVID- 19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.

For more on this and all that Sweetwater Memorial has to offer, go to sweetwatermemorial.com.