At this time, it is clear we have moved beyond the containment phase and into the mitigation phase for COVID-19. This was expected and is what you're seeing occur across the country/world. Soon, we will be unable to adequately trace each positive COVID-19 patient’s steps and provide detailed information on where they entered, what department(s) they were in, and who possibly came in contact with the patient. 

As a healthcare organization we also have to abide by HIPAA, so we are very limited on what information we can disclose. 

From the beginning MHP has stressed the importance of social distancing and hand washing.  At this point however, "The best advice available is to conduct yourself as if you personally could be an asymptomatic carrier and to assume that everyone you come in contact with could be a carrier of the virus (symptomatic or asymptomatic) as well," said Dr. Paula Gustafson, MHP Chief Medical Officer and Pediatrician . 

"Please urge your family, friends and neighbors to honor the "stay at home" order from the Governor and to use common sense techniques like hand washing, covering your cough, cleaning surfaces you frequently touch (like your cell phone) and social distancing."

For patients are experiencing flu-like symptoms or respiratory illness MHP now offers 4 convenient options.  

1. Access the NEW MHP Virtual Clinic!  See a MHP provider online via the myVirtualHealthVisit app.  The MHP VIrtual Clinic is staffed by MHP providers Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  After hours we have partnered with The Online Care Group to offer our patients 24/7 virtual care.  For instructions on how to access the MHP Virtual Clinic visit www.mymhp.org/virtual. 
2. Visit our NEW MHP Washington St. Clinic.  Located at 157 W. Washington St. and open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  Please stay in your vehicle upon arrival and call the number on the door to be added to the wait list.
3. Visit MHP Priority Care.  Located at 30 W. Rampart Street and open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.  No appointment necessary.
4. Call the MHP COVID-19 Hotline at 317-392-DOCS and a member of our care team will direct you as to your best plan of care.


 

MHP COVID-19 Daily Update                 DATE: March 26, 2020

• MHP TESTING STATUS:
  • Number of MHP patients tested: 96
  • Number of pending results: 35
  • Number of positive results: 8 (increase of 5 since yesterday)
  • 80%+ patients have minor/mild or no symptoms at all 

• MHP INPATIENT STATUS:
  • Current number of inpatients:  20
  • Current number of patients in isolation: 17 
  • Number of available beds: 20 

• MHP EMERGENCY DEPT STATUS:
  • Number of ER patients in last 24 hours: 44
  • Number of ER patients with respiratory signs/symptoms: 15 (representing 34%)

• MHP PATIENTS TREATED AT OUR RESPIRATORY CLINIC LOCATIONS:
  • Priority Care: Treated 27 patients yesterday with respiratory symptoms and 29 today with respiratory symptoms
  • Washington St. Clinic:  Treated 11 patients yesterday with respiratory symptoms and 12 today with respiratory symptoms. 

• UPDATES FOR THE PUBLIC:
  • Managing visitation:  Indiana hospitals are strictly enforcing visitation rules.  We are following the same policies.
    • Visitors are prohibited with the following exceptions:
      • One designated at end of life with appropriate screening
      • One designated for laboring patient with appropriate screening
      • One designated for pediatric patient with appropriate screening
      • One designated for surgery patient with appropriate screening
    • If a visitor is permitted, the visitor must remain in the patient’s room and cannot come and go from the patient’s room.  We are doing this to protect our other high-risk patients and our staff.  The visitor must also not have a positive or pending COVID-19 test. 
    • We can utilize FaceTime or Skype connectivity for patients and their family members to keep them connected.  The inpatient nursing staff is offering family members a phone number to call in for daily updates and also offering to make daily calls to the patient’s family if preferred. 
       
  • Why does MHP have a shortage of testing capability?    We are exploring several different vendors for testing capabilities.  There are a variety of factors to consider, such as cost to the patient, transportation of specimens and turnaround times.  To date, we have been restricted from testing certain patients and required to follow algorithms established by the CDC and ISDH, plus we initially had only two lab choices to use (ISDH/LabCorp).  Both sites had limited availability of test kits and supplies.  Currently, we have a critical shortage of transport media due to the large demand nationwide.  Our orders have been delayed by the manufacturers as they cannot keep up with demand. 
     
  • Nursing Home and Home Health patients:  The recommendation is to manage positive or suspected COVID-19 patients in isolation in their current setting and attempt to manage them in their home or in the SNF unless their situation requires emergency services.
     
  • Coordination with City/County/EMS/County Health Dept:  We continue to meet bi-weekly and interact daily with local City/County/EMS leaders and the County Health Department.  These community leaders have been very supportive and are working in coordination with MHP to ensure Shelby County is well positioned to address this crisis.