3 minute read
Coping with COVID
The continued rise of COVID-19 cases in our region is
prompting a variety of responses from area healthcare systems. Below are a few of the related articles that have crossed our desk in recent weeks.
Food banks across the nation have experienced a sharp rise in need and expenses since the onset of the pandmeic. To help ease that burden, to promote good health in the communities it serves, and to commemorate United Nations World Food Day, Sanford Health donated $3 million to area food banks. The donation is being split across eight food banks in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.
AVERA OPENS ANOTHER COVID-19 TESTING SITE IN SIOUX FALLS
Avera temporarily leased the former Vern Eide location at Minnesota Avenue and 23rd Street in Sioux Falls for an additional COVID-19 drive-through collection testing site. The site allows for six cars at a time, increasing the collection capacity and alleviating pressure from other Avera testing sites. People who need a test must first contact their clinic by phone, go to Avera.org/covidhotline, or call 1-877-AT-AVERA before showing up.
IOWA PROVIDES FREE TESTING TO CLAY COUNTY SCHOOL CHILDREN
The State of Iowa recently made rapid antigen testing available for preschool through 12th grade students in public or private schools in Clay County. Local schools, Clay County Public Health, Spencer Hospital, and Avera Medical Group Spencer have worked together to develop a process to make this testing easily accessible and free for students.
NEW MONUMENT HEALTH PROGRAM LETS PATIENTS SCHEDULE COVID-19 TESTS ONLINE
Symptomatic patients can now go online to schedule drive-up COVID-19 tests at Monument Health locations in Custer, Lead-Deadwood, Rapid City, Spearfish or Sturgis. Until now, all patients had to schedule their tests by calling Monument Health’s Nurse Triage Line, which has become increasingly busy in recent weeks. The new online option is for patients who do not need to speak with a nurse. The Nurse Triage Line will continue to be available for questions.
RAPID CITY HOSPITAL BEGINS UTILIZING SURGE AREAS FOR NON-COVID-19 PATIONS
With increasing COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in western South Dakota and a nursing shortage across the nation, Monument Health hospitals are experiencing stressed capacity. To accommodate more patients, Rapid City Hospital has been transferring some non-COVID-19 patients to the hospital’s surge area, bringing in contract caregivers, and working with other hospitals in the region to help them keep their patients closer to home.
REHABILITATION PROVIDERS PARTNER IN KEY TELEHEALTH RESEARCH STUDY
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, located in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, have joined with two other leading rehabilitation providers to launch a research study on the use of telehealth for rehabilitation in response to public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Without the ability to treat patients in person, the continuity of patient care has been put at risk and change is needed. The study will provide more insight into the problem by early 2021. ❖
❱ Read these articles in their entirety on our website.
I wish to have a playset Parker, 3 leukemia
Photo credit: Kristen Ann Photography
COVID-19 changes everything.
Make-A-Wish® conti nues to deliver hope to wish kids during this unprecedented time.
