March 24, 2023

COVID-19 UPDATE: What You Need To Know

Calvary Hospital’s priority is to safeguard the health and well-being of patients, visitors, and staff at all times.

 

Calvary Hospital Visiting Information:
Updated October 11, 2022
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1. Calvary is pleased to announce new expanded visiting hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM. Brooklyn campus visitation hours are 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
2. Calvary se complace en anunciar ¡nueve! horario de visita extendido: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
3. All visitors must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have proof of a negative PCR test collected within 72 hours of their visit. A self-administered COVID-19 test is NOT acceptable.
4. Vaccinated visitors must show official proof of vaccination such as an Excelsior Pass, CDC vaccination card or equivalent proof upon request.
5. Visits are limited to two (2) people at a time.
6. Masks must be worn while in the hospital.
7. Visitors under 16 years old are NOT permitted to visit.
8. Entrance screening. All visitors must agree to abide by CDC/DOH guidelines about COVID-19. We will take the temperature of all visitors and inquire about their exposure to COVID-19 and symptoms during the previous 14 days. Calvary reserves the right to deny entry to any visitor due to their health status.
9. PPE. We will provide visitors with a face mask to wear. The mask must be worn at all times during the visit.
10. Remote visits. To arrange a remote visit for family members and patients using FaceTime or Zoom, contact Social Work/Family Care at ext. 2365.

** The Department of Health is mandating that we collect specific information about our visitors.  Please have your Driver’s License or other identification available and have it ready for scanning. If you do not have identification, please speak to us at the registration desk.

The New York State Department of Health also offered this guidance: Visitors should understand that they might acquire COVID-19 by entering a hospital and should make an informed decision whether the benefits of a visit outweigh the risks. “Individuals age 70 years or older, or those with chronic medical conditions, are not encouraged to visit at this time due to increased risk of COVID-19 infection.”

What is Calvary doing to safeguard their patients, staff and visitors?

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Calvary Hospital has always been very safe for patients, visitors and staff. Since March 2020, we have strengthened our comprehensive infection control program.

Screening

• All new patients, visitors and staff are screened at the door before admission to our Bronx and Brooklyn campuses. We inquire about recent travel out of NYS and about the person’s health. Any employee or visitor who has a fever or shows signs of COVID-19 will be sent home. Calvary reserves the right to deny entrance to any staff or visitor whom we feel could pose a health risk to the hospital community.

Testing

• All new patients are tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or also within the first day they are an inpatient. If any test positive, patients will be cared for in a unit kept separate from our other patients and with dedicated staff. Employees have access to COVID-19 and antibody tests as often as they want.

Cleaning

• Prior to this crisis, our housekeeping team already practiced a stringent cleaning procedure for the entire facility that exceeded CDC recommendations. Patient rooms are cleaned daily and deep-cleaned before new patients arrive. Touched surfaces and equipment, as well as highly trafficked areas, are disinfected and cleaned constantly. Hand sanitizing stations are re-filled as needed on every floor. Signage is posted everywhere reminding staff and visitors to wash their hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.

PPE Use On-site

• All staff and visitors are required to wear face coverings while on-site. Any employee who has a need for full PPE (mask, face shields, gloves, gowns, booties) will receive it while on-duty. We provide all necessary PPE so that people may visit their loved ones safely each time they visit.

Social Distancing

• We have added plexiglass barriers to highly trafficked areas to reduce the possibility of infection.
• We follow NYS Department of Health guidelines regarding daily visitors and closely monitor each visit.
• We added signage throughout the facility to remind staff and visitors to maintain social distancing at all times.

Hospice & Outreach Staff

• All staff for Calvary Hospice and Outreach are screened daily for fever and signs of illness. All patients are being screened for infection with frequent re-screening at each home visit. Calvary@Home staff who visit patients in the community measure their own temperature daily. If they have a fever they contact management for instructions before leaving home.

Stay Connected with Your Loved Ones at Calvary Hospital (back to top)

It is our goal during this difficult time to keep patients and their family members connected and to assist patients in placing video calls to their family members. Currently, we will do this Monday through Friday. As soon as feasibly possible, we will make this available on weekends.

We are able to help patients utilizing Zoom conferencing, FaceTime or WhatsApp. Each patient also has a phone in the room which we can assist them in dialing. If you need assistance with downloading and using the Zoom Conferencing App, we can send you a memo with instructions for connecting.

If you would like to connect with your loved one while they are at Calvary, please feel free to call the Social Work/Family Care Department at 718-518-2365 and we will be happy to facilitate the connection.

Note: This information is subject to change in accordance with the Department of Health.

What you need to know about COVID-19 (back to top)

1. 1. What is a coronavirus?
      Coronaviruses are viruses that cause sicknesses like the common cold. In December 2019, a new virus was seen in people in Wuhan City, China, and caused the ongoing outbreak that spread to other countries. The sickness caused by this virus is now called COVID-19.
   2. What are the symptoms and how serious is this virus?
      The CDC believes that the symptoms of COVID-19 may appear between two and 14 days after exposure. The symptoms can include:
      • Fever
      • Cough
      • Trouble breathing
   3. According to the CDC, if you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately.
      The Emergency warning signs are the following:
      • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
      • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
      • New confusion or inability to arouse
      • Bluish lips or face
      • Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning – this list is not inclusive
   4. What should I do if I have symptoms?
      If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and have symptoms, call ahead before going to your doctor’s office or emergency room to tell them about your symptoms and any recent travel.
   5. How do I stay healthy?
      • Wash hands with soap and water
      • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth
      • Eat well, stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep
      • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
      • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue
      • Stay away from work, school, or other people if you become sick
      • Social distancing is key to stopping the spread of COVID-19
   6. How do I protect others, if I am sick?
      According to the CDC, the steps to protect others are in the following:
      • If you are sick, stay at home
      • Cover your mouth or nose when you cough or sneeze (tissue or the inside of your elbow) – throw tissue away after using it. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and if soap is unavailable clean with hand sanitizer that at least 60% alcohol
      • CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings, like on public and mass transportation, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people.
        Do NOT wear masks intended for healthcare workers, for example, N95 respirators
      • Disinfect and clean often and touched surfaces daily. This includes doorknobs, light switches, countertops, tables, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks
      • If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection

More COVID-19 News from the Experts (back to top)

1. • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): CDC website
   • New York State Department of Health: NY State on PAUSE
   • CNN International: CORONAVIRUS: Live updates
   • NBC: Latest Stories
   • ABC News
   • CBS News
   • CNBC