Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness Information

Our hospitals are committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients, employees, providers, volunteers and visitors. We are continuing to monitor the evolving situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and are taking the necessary steps to ensure we are fully prepared to care for patients, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in partnership with our local and state health departments.

We can confirm that we are treating patients who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at the Danville campus where these patients are in isolation. Dozens of patients have been tested across both campuses, and to date, there has not yet been a positive case at the Martinsville campus.

We want to reassure our communities that it is safe to come to the hospital should you or your family need care. We stand ready to serve you.

Below are a number of resources to help educate you and your family on COVID-19. For more information on the virus, please contact the Virginia Department of Health.

Quick Links:

COVID-19 Testing FAQ

How do I get tested for COVID-19?

At this time, tests for COVID-19 require a provider order. Visiting a provider does not necessarily mean you need testing or that you will receive testing. Your provider will work with the local health department to follow all appropriate guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health to determine if testing is recommended based on your symptoms and recent travel history.

What are the qualifications for being tested for COVID-19?

Someone may be a candidate for testing if he or she has:

A fever and cough or shortness of breath AND has been in close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case; or
A fever and cough or shortness of breath and a history of travel from affected geographic areas; or
A fever and cough or shortness of breath requiring hospitalization with no other source of infection.

Can I pick up or buy a test kit for COVID-19?

No. At this time, tests for COVID-19 require a provider order and are not commercially available to the public.

What do I do if I’ve been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19? I want to be tested.

If you have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should self-monitor for fever or symptoms of respiratory illness for 14 days. If you begin to experience fever or symptoms of respiratory illness, and they are mild enough that you can manage them at home, you should remain at home in isolation. For details about how to correctly perform home isolation, tips for managing your illness at home with family members, and guidance on when you can discontinue home isolation, please visit the CDC’s website.

If you are not experiencing symptoms, or you are experiencing mild symptoms you can manage at home in isolation, you do not need to seek medical care or testing.

I believe I have symptoms of COVID-19. What do I do next?

I’m experiencing mild symptoms right now, but I’m worried.

If you are experiencing fever and/or mild symptoms of respiratory illness, you can and should isolate at home during illness. For details about how to correctly perform home isolation, tips for managing your illness at home with family members, and guidance on when you can discontinue home isolation, please visit the CDC’s website.

Should I get tested? Isolating yourself at home and self-monitoring mild symptoms is the best course of action unless you feel you need medical care.

Worsening symptoms – I need to see my provider.

Be alert to any changing symptoms and seek prompt medical attention if your symptoms are getting worse. If you feel you need to visit your healthcare provider, call ahead before you arrive to tell them you’re experiencing symptoms that may be related to COVID-19. This will allow your provider’s office staff to properly prepare for your visit and take the necessary precautions to keep others from being infected or exposed.

Will I be tested? Your provider will make this determination based on your symptoms, and recent travel history. You may or may not be tested, but your provider will follow all appropriate CDC and Virginia Department of Health guidelines.

Emergent symptoms – I am having difficulty breathing.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 and notify the dispatch agent that your emergency is related to possible COVID-19 symptoms.

Will I be tested? Your emergency medicine provider will make this determination based on your symptoms and recent travel history. You may or may not be tested, but your provider will follow all appropriate CDC and Virginia Department of Health guidelines.

Visitor Restrictions and Screening Guidelines

zero visitors In accordance with guidance from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and with the health and safety of our patients, families, employees and community in mind, Sovah Health is implementing strict visitor restrictions, moving to a zero-visitor protocol at both campuses effective immediately, Sunday March 22. Exceptions to this visitor protocol may include pediatric patients, obstetric patients and those receiving end-of-life care. We have already limited entry as well, and everyone entering the hospital campuses should continue to use the Emergency Department and the Main Entrance for access. Per CDC guidelines, everyone entering our facilities will be screened for respiratory symptoms and travel history.

Zero-Visitor Protocol exceptions include:

Pediatric patients will be allowed two parents or guardians only.
Obstetric patients will be allowed to have one support person with them for their entire hospital visit.
End-of-life care - limited exceptions will be made for end of life and medical necessity as determined by the care team.

Signage is being posted around the facilities notifying visitors and the community of these new restrictions and guidelines.

Rescheduling Elective and Non-Urgent Cases

Sovah Health continues to adapt to meet the clinical needs of our communities during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and through this, we remain committed to providing high quality care and protecting the health and safety of our patients, employees, physicians and community at large. We have been working closely with the Virginia Department Health and Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An important element to our preparedness is conserving essential resources needed to care for patients with COVID-19, where possible, as we navigate this rapidly evolving situation and prepare for what the next few weeks may hold.

In accordance with recent guidance from CDC, the American College of Surgeons, and the Surgeon General, we have made the difficult, but necessary, decision to reschedule elective and non-urgent cases for 30 days when deemed clinically appropriate. Patients whose appointments are being rescheduled are being notified, and procedures will be rescheduled as soon as feasible. We are continuing to schedule new cases beyond April 19.

Importantly, rescheduling elective and non-urgent cases:

Conserves essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for our frontline staff members;
Conserves hospital and ICU beds, supplies and other resources; and
Ensures we will have all necessary personnel available to support our sickest patients.

The trust our community places in us is so important. We want to assure our community that it is safe to come to our hospital should you or a family member need care. Our providers and clinical teams are well-trained and prepared to safely respond to viruses and infectious diseases, including COVID-19. We have made the decision to reschedule elective and non-urgent procedures because it will help ensure we have the people and resources necessary to meet the needs of our patients in the coming weeks. We know that it is the right thing to do.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to do everything we can to prepare for the potential impact of COVID-19 on our community. For more information about hospital preparedness, please visit our website at SovahHealth.com. For more information about COVID-19, please contact Virginia Department Health or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.

As a reminder, if you are concerned you are experiencing respiratory illness symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and plan to visit our hospital, your primary care provider or an urgent clinic, please call ahead before you go and let them know that you are experiencing symptoms that may possibly be related to COVID-19. This will allow providers to properly prepare for your visit and take the necessary precautions to keep others from being infected or exposed. If you are having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or go directly to the Emergency Room. If possible, notify the dispatch agent that your emergency involves symptoms possibly related to COVID-19.

Patient Accounts, Business and Cashier Offices Closed to the Public

As the situation regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, so does our hospital’s response. In addition to measures we’ve taken including restricting visitors, closing common areas, and adhering diligently to Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, Sovah Health is taking more precautionary steps to help ensure the safety of our patients, employees and visitors. Therefore, we’ve decided to close the Patient Accounts, Business and Cashier Offices.

Danville Campus

For Hospital Billing Inquiries please call 434-799-3780 or go to SovahHealth.com/patients-visitors/billing-insurance.

For all other billing questions please contact one of the agencies below:

APOGEE HOSPITALISTS: 1-866-869-2395
CAPIO COLLECTIONS PARTNERS: 1-888-893-0173
DANVILLE PATHOLOGISTS: 434-799-8398
DANVILLE PHYSICIANS PRACTICES: 434-799-4495
DANVILLE RADIOLOGISTS: 1-866-457-5498
EMERGENCY COVERAGE CORP (ER PHYSICIAN’S BILL): 1-888-852-6772
MEDSTREAM ANETHESLOGISTS: 1-828-210-9386
NPAS COLLECTIONS: 1-800-223-9899

Martinsville Campus

For Hospital Billing Inquiries please call 276-666-7656 or go to https://www.sovahhealth.com/patients-visitors/billing-insurance

For all other billing questions please contact one of the agencies below:

APOGEE HOSPITALISTS: 1-866-869-2395
CAPIO COLLECTIONS PARTNERS: 1-888-893-0173
DANVILLE PATHOLOGISTS: 434-799-8398
SOVAH HEALTH PHYSICIANS PRACTICES: 434-799-4495
EMERGENCY COVERAGE CORP (ER PHYSICIAN’S BILL): 1-888-852-6772
MARTINSVILLE SURGICAL ASSOCIATES: 276-656-2103
MARTINSVILLE NEUROLOGICAL: 276-632-4181
MEDSTREAM ANETHESLOGISTS: 1-828-210-9386
NPAS COLLECTIONS: 1-800-223-9899
PIEDMONT DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY (MARTINSVILLE CAMPUS): 276-634-2549
PIEDMONT STONE CENTER (MARTINSVILLE LITHOTRIPSY): 336-765-6373
TRIAD PSYCHIATRIC AND COUNSELING: 336-441-2355

Thank you for your understanding as Sovah Health strives to keep our communities safe during this unprecedented time. We will resume normal office operations as soon as we are safely able to do so. We appreciate you choosing Sovah Health for your healthcare needs.

COVID-19: What Sovah Health is Doing and What You Can Do

It probably feels as if coronavirus – or as it is officially known, COVID-19 – is all anyone is talking about these days. As COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses like the seasonal flu continue to spread across the U.S., you also may feel a certain level of concern over how this disease could affect you or your loved ones, or if your local healthcare provider is prepared to respond to any local cases that may arise. That’s certainly understandable and natural. We want to provide you with essential information outlining what we are doing to stay prepared and offer you guidance on what you can do to help protect yourself, your family and our community.

What we are doing

Sovah Health is committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients, employees, providers, volunteers and visitors at all times. While COVID-19 is new, effectively responding to other infectious diseases is not. We have tested processes and plans in place to respond to situations involving infectious disease year-round. Here is what we are doing to stay ready and effectively respond to COVID-19:

We continue to work closely with Virginia Department of Health (VDH)and follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure that we are prepared with appropriate plans to detect, protect and respond should anyone in our community contract or be exposed to COVID-19.
We have a robust emergency operations plan in place and are reviewing and proactively completing a number of preparation checklists out of an abundance of caution.
Staff treating a potential COVID-19 case are provided with all appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to help prevent exposure.
Patients with respiratory or COVID-19-related symptoms are immediately provided masks to wear to help prevent exposure to others.
Now that we have a positive COVID-19 case, we will follow all CDC guidelines for placing that individual in isolation for their care and for the protection of other patients, employees and visitors.
We are implementing strict visitor restrictions, moving to a zero-visitor protocol at both campuses effective immediately, Sunday March 22. Exceptions to this visitor protocol may include pediatric patients, obstetric patients and those receiving end-of-life care.
We have already limited entry as well, and everyone entering the hospital campuses should continue to use the Emergency Department and the Main Entrance for access. Per CDC guidelines, everyone entering our facilities will be screened for respiratory symptoms and travel history.

These measures are in place to protect our facility and our community. Please know that our providers and clinical teams are well-trained and prepared to manage outbreaks of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses.

What you can do

It’s easy to feel helpless when faced with a barrage of news reports and social media updates regarding COVID-19. The good news is that there are some key steps you can take to help protect you and your loved ones and help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19:

Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Staying home when you are sick
Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces, including your phone, computer, remote controls and doorknobs
Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
Using an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available (Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty)
Practicing social distancing behaviors, including working from home, avoiding public gatherings and unnecessary travel, and maintaining a distance of approximately six feet from others when possible.

What to do if you are experiencing symptoms

First and foremost - if you are having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or go directly to the Emergency Room. If possible, notify the dispatch agent that your emergency involves symptoms possibly related to COVID-19.

For non-emergency needs, if you need medical attention due to respiratory illness symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and plan to visit our hospital, your primary care provider or an urgent clinic, please call ahead before you go and let them know that you are experiencing symptoms that may possibly be related to COVID-19. This will allow providers to properly prepare for your visit and take the necessary precautions to keep others from being infected or exposed.

Please be reassured that our number one priority is the health and well-being of our community – and that includes you. We are prepared to manage an outbreak of respiratory illness, and we encourage you to follow the guidance above and stay tuned to updates from the CDC to help protect you and your loved ones. Keeping our community healthy is a community effort, and we are committed to doing everything we can to keep our community healthy today and for generations to come.

Hygiene Reminders from the CDC

Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.

Wash Your Hands Often to Stay Healthy

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
After handling pet food or pet treats
After touching garbage

Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.

Follow these five steps every time.

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Why? Read the science behind the recommendations.

Use Hand Sanitizer When You Can’t Use Soap and Water

You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label.

Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However,

Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs.
Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy metals.

Caution! Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning if more than a couple of mouthfuls are swallowed. Keep it out of reach of young children and supervise their use. Learn more here.

How to use hand sanitizer

Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
Rub your hands together.
Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

For more information, visit the CDC website.

Who is at risk?

The risk to the general public remains low at this time. Right now, influenza is a much more significant threat to Americans. Protect yourself from the flu - it’s not too late to get your flu vaccine.

Evidence to date indicates those most at risk for becoming ill with COVID-19 are:

Those in close contact with someone with a confirmed COVID-19 infection, including healthcare workers and
Those who have traveled in the past 14 days in countries or cities with ongoing community spread of the virus.

The CDC Travel Health Notices website provides a list of countries with sustained COVID-19 transmission.

Travelers returning from one of the countries with community spread of COVID-19 should monitor themselves for fever and other symptoms of COVID-19, including cough and shortness of breath, for 14 days after they return from one of those countries.

What are the symptoms?

Patients with COVID-19 have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

Are there different strains of coronavirus?

Yes, there are seven different coronaviruses known to infect humans.

Four of the seven coronaviruses are very common, more mild (similar to the common cold), and most people will be infected with at least one of them in their lifetime. Healthcare providers test for these common coronaviruses routinely, and no public health measures are needed to address these common coronaviruses. People infected with the common coronaviruses can avoid passing them to others by covering their coughs and sneezes, cleaning their hands frequently and containing germs by staying home when ill.
Three of the seven coronaviruses are rare and can cause more severe illness; this includes COVID-19. Testing for this virus can only be done at CDC; healthcare providers are not able to test for this virus independent of the public health department.

What should I do if I have traveled to an area with the infection and feel sick?

If you have had exposure to a known case or traveled to a country with community spread and developed a fever or respiratory symptoms, please isolate yourself at home from others and contact our local VDH at www.vdh.virginia.gov or NCDHHS at www.ncdhhs.gov before seeking medical care. If you need immediate medical care, contact your healthcare provider to describe your symptoms and any recent travels before you go to the healthcare facility.

How can I protect myself?

While there is currently no vaccine and no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19, the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus and those with the virus can seek medical care to relieve symptoms. There are simple, everyday actions you can take to help prevent spreading germs that cause respiratory viruses. These include:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Close contact is defined as being within approximately 6 feet, or within the room or care area, of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). Close contact can also include caring for, living with, visiting or sharing a healthcare waiting area or room with a COVID-19 case. Having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (such as being coughed on) while not wearing recommended PPE.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should:

Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Sovah Health - Danville 434.799.2100

Sovah Health - Martinsville 276.666.7200

Sovah Health