SVH Community Update: Flu Season, Flu Vaccines, COVID-19 and Testing, Extreme Weather, and Telehealth
October 12, 20202020 Flu Season Is Here. Are You Ready?
Do you know the difference between Covid-19 and flu symptoms? Will the same precautions you take to prevent Covid-19 also help prevent the flu?
As flu season begins, we have something else to think about beyond Covid-19. To help inform our community and better prepare it for both health concerns, Sonoma Valley Hospital, in partnership with Vintage House, is providing an important virtual HealthTalk on these subjects through the Zoom videoconference platform. The talk will be held on Tuesday, October 13, at 1:30 pm, hosted by Vintage House, and is open to the community.
The featured speaker is Leah Heinrich, Epidemiologist and Infection Preventionist for Sonoma Valley Hospital, who will be discussing these and other topics to help our community avoid both Covid-19 and the flu. There will be ample time for questions and answers following Leah’s presentation. Register online at www.vintagehouse.org/events or by calling 707.996.0311.
In addition, on Thursday, October 15 and 22, from 10:00 am untill Noon, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center is sponsoring two drive-through flu vaccination clinics at Vintage House. There is no cost for the vaccination. Vintage House is located at 264 1st Street East in Sonoma. For more information contact Vintage House 707.996.0311.
Community Collaboration and COVID-19
SVH Chief Medical Officer Sabrina Kidd MD, recently reported that the number of Covid-19 cases at the Hospital continues to decline and are currently at their lowest level since early June. She said the Hospital remains open and has seen an increase in the number of patients seeking elective care, which they can do with confidence as SVH continues to maintain strict protocols to ensure the safety of patients who visit the Hospital. SVH maintains a no-visitor policy with only those seeking services allowed to enter.
However, Sonoma County remains one of the few hotspots for COVID-19 outbreaks within the State according to the Department of Public Health. To learn more about how Sonoma County is doing compared to other counties, visit www.socoemergency.org. You will find a detailed report that is updated regularly showing how we are doing as a county.
A collaborative task force, spearheaded by the Cathy Capriola, Manager for the City of Sonoma and Juan Hernandez, Executive Director for La Luz Center was formed to “further support and strengthen our Sonoma Valley LatinX community through the COVID-19 pandemic.” More than ten organizations are participating including Sonoma Valley Hospital and Sonoma Valley Community Health Center.
Covid-19 Testing Update
Although the Hospital has acquired in-house Covid-19 testing capability, testing supplies and other resources remain in high demand nationwide and we do not have ample supplies to expand Covid-19 testing beyond our patients. Currently, all symptomatic emergency patients, pre-operative patients, and inpatients are given priority for testing. We continue to test patients with physician referrals meeting current County and State criteria (which is subject to change due to limited national availability of testing supplies). More information can be found at the County’s website specific to testing and results: www.socoemergency.org
Air Quality and Extreme Weather
We continue to maintain current information about managing health conditions during severe seasonal weather disruptions, fires and poor air quality, and public power outages at our website, www.sonomavalleyhospital.org It includes a section, with information provided by the National Weather Service, that explains the four types of alerts activated: Heat Outlooks, Heat Watches, Heat Advisories, and Heat Warnings. Be informed, stay alert, and stay calm.
Dr. Kidd reported that the Hospital’s Incident Command Center, which was activated in February to monitor and respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, continues to meet and has begun to monitor the air quality situation which has been affected by the fires in Sonoma and Napa counties. She said the Hospital has deployed more than 20 air scrubbers through the facility to maintain air quality at safe levels.
Safe Place, Trusted Care, Telehealth
At Sonoma Valley Hospital, we have a 75-year commitment to meet the diverse healthcare needs of Sonoma Valley. Your safety is our highest priority, always. Guided by our infection prevention protocols from UCSF Health and our Quality Department, we evaluate each patient’s individual circumstance and determine how best to meet their needs, including in-person diagnostic procedures (medical imaging, mammography, laboratory, cardio testing, wound care, occupational health, and orthopedic care).
Telehealth visits are offered to patients who receive care from our two clinics Sonoma Valley Family Practice and Occupational Health. Several of the primary care and specialist providers in Sonoma Valley are also providing telehealth visits. We continue to expand our abilities to best meet and serve your health needs so you can continue to rely upon the quality and compassionate care that you have come to expect and receive.
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Wear the Mask, Safe Distance, Wash Hands, and Stay Calm.
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