Pioneers Medical Center Staying Vigilant Against COVID-19

Meeker, Colorado—June 29, 2020—Pioneers Medical Center appreciates our community. You have been supportive, and understanding about the necessary changes Pioneers has put in place to manage COVID-19. We give you our most sincere Thank you for wearing your masks and practicing social distancing. We appreciate the sacrifices businesses have had to make. Without these efforts, our community could be having a much different experience with the coronavirus.  

This week Pioneers Medical Center learned that a relief, as needed (PRN) employee had tested positive for COVID-19.  The employee was asymptomatic (without symptoms) and is self-quarantined at home

Since the beginning of the outbreak, the staff at Pioneers Medical Center (Pioneers) and the Walbridge Memorial Wing (The Wing) have thoughtfully prepared our employees and facility. We have put in place the most effective practices to protect our patients/residents and staff against COVID-19.

We have worked very hard in the Walbridge Wing nursing home to protect our most vulnerable population. Some examples of practice we are taking are:

• Nursing home staff are being tested weekly for COVID-19
• We are following Governor Polis’s Executive Order, which states that nursing homes must continue to have NO visitors. (We try to make exceptions for special circumstances such as the end of life. These will be handled on a case-by-case basis.)
• We are offering residents the choice to have a COVID-19 test.

 “The lack of family visits is hard for our residents. We are using virtual family visits to help families still have time together.” Says, Wanda Hughes, Director of Long-Term Care.

“People need healthcare. We do not want patients to not come to Pioneers, because they are afraid of COVID,” says Dr. Kellie Turner, Pioneers Chief of Staff. “We are here to provide you the best care. We have made adjustments to give our patients the safest experience and protect them against COVID-19,” continued Turner. 

When you come to Pioneers, you will be asked to help us protect everyone by:

• Stopping at the Screening station at our entrances.
• Wearing a mask
• Take a pump of hand sanitizer and rub over your hands
• Practice Social Distancing in our waiting areas

Pioneers is taking additional precautions: 

• Pioneers is utilizing specific patient flow to keep sick patients and well patients separate.
• Staff inventories Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure Pioneers has an adequate supply.
• Our visitor policy has been restricted, and we encourage families to utilize other methods such as FaceTime or other platforms to stay in contact with their loved ones.
  • Pioneers will allow one visitor who will be designated at the time of hospital admission.
  • No one under the age of 18, unless approved for special circumstances
  • End of Life policies are in place.
  • Two designated primary caregivers will be allowed for the duration to stay with pediatric patients. They must stay and not come and go from hospital.
  • Emergency room patients are allowed one visitor, who must remain in the room with the patient at all times. Visitors will be escorted in and out of the building.
  • One visitor may accompany a patient receiving surgery, or an outpatient procedure
  • One caregiver can accompany a patient with a disability or cognitive limitations.
  • No visitors with fever, cough, or breathing problems.

Pioneers is proud to be able to provide our community, its healthcare. Thank you for being diligent in your own practices against COVID-19.

For questions or more information, call 970-878-5047 and ask for Margie Joy, Pioneers Chief Communications Officer.