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THE WEST END NEWS | JULY 2020
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Providing a Safe Return to Content Provided by Northern Light Health Care Mercy Hospital At Northern Light Mercy Hospital, the health and safety of our patients is always our top priority. For that reason, we want you to get the care you need for your health conditions when you need it. Our team is dedicated to providing safe, high-quality care no matter what is going on in the world, and we want you to feel confident when you come to us. All our locations – from hospitals to healthcare centers – have implemented enhanced safety measures to keep you safe. We hope the infographic accompanying this article and the answers to frequently asked questions below are helpful as you consider seeking care. We’ve also developed a series of videos to show you what you can expect at your in-person visit to our hospitals, walk-in care locations, emergency department, and medical offices. These videos and additional FAQs can be found by visiting NorthernLightHealth.org/SafeCare. If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact your healthcare provider to learn more.
Are you seeing general patients?
Northern Light Mercy Hospital, a nonprofit community hospital sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, has been providing care to greater Portland since 1918. Mercy consistently receives an ‘A’ grade by The Leapfrog Group for meeting the highest safety standards in the country. It has also been recognized as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report.
How are you ensurTelehealth uses computers or tele- ing patients stay more phones to provide care when you are than six feet away unable to see your healthcare team in from each other? offering telehealth visits when possible.
person. In-person visits are still available We have observed that for care that requires a face-to-face visit, our patients already are doing physical examination, treatment, or procea good job of physical distancdures. Your care team will help you detering. We have also reorganized mine which is best for you. our reception areas and other What happens when I arrive? public spaces with fewer chairs and marked our floors at sixYou will be greeted by one of our emfoot intervals. We’re working ployees who will provide you with hand hard to schedule appointments sanitizer and a mask if you do not have with time to avoid any crowdone. This greeter will also ask you some ing in our reception areas. screening questions and take your temperature using a touch-free thermometer. While our current univerYou may be asked multiple times about sal masking policy adds another any symptoms you may have during your layer of protection, the expecvisit—please be patient. This is for your tation is that physical distance safety. will be maintained using scheduling, workflow changes, and Have you increased cleaning physical design of our spaces.
frequency within your hospi-
Yes, and our Safe Care Commitment tals and clinics? ensures your in-person visits to all our Yes, we have established new, more facilities are welcoming and safe. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and recommen- frequent cleaning protocols throughout dations to physically distance, we are also all our hospitals and clinics.
To learn more about our services, testing, and what Mercy Hospital is doing to keep patients safe, please visit NorthernLight.org/Mercy.
