Greene County Medical Center's Response to First COVID-19 Case in Greene County

This week Greene County Public Health announced the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Greene County. Greene County Medical Center is aware of the case and is monitoring the information received from Public Health that the individual is self-isolating at home.

Given the current global pandemic of COVID-19 and the inevitable news that was released Monday, Greene County Medical Center has been actively planning with leaders for over a month now by meeting five days a week via teleconference for the most current updates and creating plans for response. A surge plan has been developed with the input of the Medical Center’s providers, and mock drills to practice patient scenarios are taking place to make sure all staff understand the process. By practicing prior to an influx of patients, the team can proactively adapt to necessary changes to provide better and safer care while protecting staff. Interim CEO Tracy Warner commented, “I am so proud of all the work the Medical Center has done preparing for COVID-19. We, as a community and as Greene County Medical Center, are ready to handle such a situation. Our top priority is the health and safety of our staff, patients and community.”

Please make sure you are following suggested guidelines for social distancing, self-isolation, etc. and any regulations put in place for the state of Iowa. These guidelines are crucial to help slow the spread of the virus. We ask that our patients please call ahead to the provider, clinic or department they are wanting to be seen by if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Calling ahead ensures practices are safe for both the patient and healthcare workers.

Resources for information on COVID-19 include the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and can be found on the Greene County Medical Center website at gcmchealth.com/covid-19.