June 2020

Elective Surgeries Back on Track at Highland

When COVID-19 hit one of the first services put on hold was elective surgery. During that down time at Highland a plan was thoughtfully put in place about how to resume them when the hospital got the green light to do so.

Highland ED: Committed to Safe Care for All

Highland’s Emergency Department mobilized early and quickly to care for COVID-19 patients while still providing a safe environment for other patients who needed emergency care.

Highland Family Medicine Redesigns Practice to Include COVID-19 Precautions and Treatment

Highland Family Medicine is a medical practice where walk-ins are welcome. So when the area saw its first signs of COVID-19 they knew they had to take action to ensure patient and staff safety.

At 777 South Clinton they quickly closed off the front entrance and set up nurses and medical assistants as screeners at the back door. If a patient had COVID symptoms they were escorted to what they called the Respiratory Care Clinic in the closest suite to the entrance, Suite 200.

Initial screening questions were about travel, respiratory symptoms, cough, and fever. That progressed to adding other symptoms as they were determined to be signs of COVID, temperature taking, and mask and hand sanitizer distribution.

COVID-19 and the Changing Face of Ambulatory Care

As Senior Program Administrator for UR Medicine Geriatrics Group, Ryan Gilmartin, MHA, has responsibilities for medical direction and medical services for 15 nursing homes and 33 assisted living facilities across the region. When COVID-19 struck he was asked to be the point person for all of Highland’s Ambulatory sites and help develop, interpret, and implement policies, procedures and work flow changes for the sites.

COVID-19 and What it Means to Senior Care

COVID-19 has hit the senior population the hardest. Caring for seniors is a priority for Highland Hospital and according to Daniel Mendelson, M.S., M.D., FACP, AGSF, associate chief of medicine, there are many positive changes being made in the approach to senior care.