Yesterday, we provided an update on the demographics of the COVID-19 patients OBHG clinicians have cared for across our network of hospital partners.
Today, we wanted to share some of the trends we are seeing as we continue to support our hospital partners during this unprecedented time:
- Many of our hospital partner sites have implemented universal COVID-19 screening for all pregnant women, and we expect this to increase as expanded testing becomes more readily available. Some of our partner hospitals are also requiring regular workforce testing.
- Curbside testing for pregnant patients, the day before scheduled delivery, has been established by some of our hospital partners. Patients that go into labor naturally are given a rapid test and precautions are taken if they test positive.
- Some hospitals have moved all pregnant patients, regardless of gestation age, from the main emergency department to the obstetrics emergency department.
- To minimize exposure to community providers, OBHG clinicians are being designated to care for all pregnant COVID-19 positive and presumptive positive patients at some of our partner hospital sites.
- Our teams are helping some of our hospital partners establish telehealth services for pregnant patients in ancillary buildings before patients are approved to enter the main hospital. This process is helping to minimize exposure for both staff and patients.
- We have also assisted several hospital partners in moving their labor and delivery services to other locations on their hospital campuses or other locations within their hospital systems.
- OBHG clinicians continue to provide onsite leadership by supporting hospital administrators in making operational changes in how care is delivered to pregnant patients, training colleagues on the latest protocols and proper PPE usage and authoring safety protocols on labor and delivery units.
During this challenging time, we are grateful for everything healthcare workers and leaders are doing to save lives. As always, OBHG is here to provide unwavering support to hospitals and health systems.
Note: Click here to read a May 18th update on the COVID-19-positive patients OBHG clinicians have cared for.