Your Health and Safety Remain Our #1 Priority

Frequently Asked Questions for Patients

Is the hospital clean and safe? 

Our hospital is clean and safe -- just like it always has been! One of the core elements of properly managing infectious diseases is the cleanliness of our physical facility. We partner with a national environmental services vendor to keep our hospital current on the most effective cleaning and disinfection protocols available in healthcare today.

Do you have the supplies and capacity to accommodate my procedure? 

Our clinical teams conduct daily "go/no-go" meetings in which they will review crucial supplies such as PPE, medications, blood, space and staffing to ensure that we have enough to comfortably care for those undergoing elective/non-urgent procedures AND accommodate our normal emergency care and potential COVID-19 patients.

We are not booking our schedules to full capacity. Out of an abundance of caution and with the conservation of supplies in mind, we are not starting with a full schedule right away. Should things continue to progress positively, we'll increase our capacity on a week-by-week basis. This is for your safety and ours.

Do you have enough staff to resume elective/non-urgent procedures?

Our team regularly monitors staffing levels to ensure a safe environment for all patients, providers and employees. In addition, we screen all employees daily for COVID-19 symptoms. We are confident that we have the appropriate staff and providers to resume elective and non-urgent procedures while also accommodating our normal emergency care and potential COVID-19 patients. 

Will my experience be the same as in the past? 

Your experience in our facility may look a little different than in the past, but this is because we have new processes and procedures in place to further protect your health during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

What should I expect during my procedure?

Upon arrival at the facility, you will be asked the same standard screening questions. Please bring your own mask or face covering to cover your mouth and nose. If you do not have a mask, a mask will be provided.

We continue to operate under a limited visitor policy out of an abundance of caution. View the current visitation policy here. If you are not allowed a visitor then we will gather from you their contact information so we can follow up with them to provide an update after your procedure and share instructions for pick up at the same location. Please tell your family member/spouse/friend/caregiver to expect a phone call from Sovah Health.
You are going to be asked COVID-19 screening questions multiple times by multiple people, up until you are admitted for your procedure. You may get tired of these questions, but we assure you they are for your health and safety, and that of our staff. 

You may never see the faces of your care team members under their protective equipment. We do regret this, as the personal connections we have with our patients and community are what keep us going. However, this is an important precaution we are taking to protect you and our clinical staff.

What questions will I be asked during the screening? 

The questions are part of our standard COVID-19 screening process and include asking if you have....

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Whenever you are asked, please answer these screening questions honestly. If your procedure has to be postponed, it will be just that: postponed. It does NOT mean it will be canceled, and we will work with you to reschedule as soon as possible.

How will I prepare for my procedure? 

If you are having a surgical procedure, you will be required to:

• Undergo testing for COVID-19 prior to your procedure. Your provider will place the order for the test and provide instruction for where to go to receive your test. If your test happens to be positive, your procedure will be postponed, and you will be given instructions related to your care.

Though not a requirement, you also will be strongly encouraged to:

• Practice isolation behaviors for seven (7) days to minimize potential exposure prior to your procedure. This means going a step further from social distancing – trying only to leave your home for critical needs such as groceries or going to the pharmacy. If you need to leave for an essential purpose, or for work, it is strongly recommended that you wear a mask in public settings, and where practicing social/physical distancing is difficult to achieve, you should be even more diligent about proper hand hygiene.
• Monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19; and
• Check your temperature and record it twice a day during this seven-day period. You should report any temperature above 100°F to your provider.

If you are having an imaging study or interventional radiology procedure, you will be screened and masked, but not tested for COVID-19.

Will I be tested for COVID-19? 

If you are having a surgical procedure, you will be tested for COVID-19 prior to your procedure. Your provider will place the order for the test, and the hospital's designated testing site will reach out with instructions for scheduling. If your test happens to be positive, your procedure will be postponed, and you will be given instructions related to your care. If you are having an imaging procedure, you will be screened and masked, but not tested for COVID-19.

Sovah Health -- Danville Testing Site

Sovah Lab Care - Holbrook
Address: 101 Holbrook Street, Danville, VA 24541 
Phone: 434-799-4422 

Sovah Health -- Martinsville Testing Site

Your COVID-19 testing will be done with your Pre-op teaching at the Hospital and will be scheduled 4 days prior to the procedure.  The date and time will be given to you at your physician's office/visit when your procedure is scheduled.

Can my family member/spouse/friend/caregiver come with me to the facility? 

If you have a family member/spouse/friend/caregiver with you, he/she will may not be permitted to enter the hospital. We are still operating under our limited visitor policy out of an abundance of caution. View the current visitation policy here. When you arrive, you will either park and enter through main entrance, or be dropped off by your family member/spouse/friend/caregiver at main entrance, where they will remain in the car. We will gather from you their contact information so we can follow up with them to provide an update after your procedure and share instructions for pick up at the same location. Please tell your family member/spouse/friend/caregiver to expect a phone call from Sovah Health.

What happens when I arrive for my procedure? 

When you arrive at the facility, you will be asked the same standard screening questions. Please bring your own mask or face covering to cover your mouth and nose. If you do not have a mask, a mask will be provided.

Will I be treated near COVID-19 patients? 

We are not performing elective/non-urgent procedures on COVID-19 positive patients at this time.

All patients who test positive for an infectious disease, including COVID-19, are isolated for treatment in accordance with state health department and CDC guidelines. Our hospital has a dedicated isolation unit for treatment of patients under investigation (PUIs) and patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

If I have additional questions about my procedure, who should I contact? 

If you have any questions, please call our team at:

• Sovah Health -- Danville: One Day Surgery Department 434.799.4590. 
• Sovah Health -- Martinsville: 276-634-4971 or 276-666-7389