DCH Coronavirus Update 7-30-21

Main Entrances Closing at Northport and Fayette

Recently DCH announced that it was returning to more stringent visitation limitations (see link below). To better manage these limitations, the main entrance at Fayette Medical Center has been closed. Starting Monday, Aug. 2, the main entrance at Northport Medical Center will also be closed until further notice. Other entrances that have been open during the pandemic will remain open, for the time being, for visitor registration and entry.

https://www.dchsystem.com/covid-19/visitation-policy2/

DCH Chief Operating Officer Addresses COVID-19 Situation

Yesterday Paul Betz, chief operating officer for the DCH Health System, spoke with the media about the COVID-19 situation at DCH. Additionally, he asked registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in the community to come work with us. He explained that DCH is offering community RNs short-term work agreements where they can work a few shifts as their schedules permit. Community RNs who can help, and wish to find out more, can call 205-333-4772.

A recording of Betz’s remarks can be found in the link below. We need your help to spread the word about these important messages and encourage you to view and share his comments.

https://youtu.be/45P8r1nKXDI

COVID-19 Information

To protect patient privacy, DCH has established a minimum threshold of five for reporting numbers of inpatients with laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19.

DCH Health System internal counts as of 2:39 p.m. on 7/30/21:

• 66 inpatients within the DCH system who are positive for COVID-19.
• 18 inpatients who are positive for COVID-19 are being treated in the ICU.
• Six inpatients who are positive for COVID-19 are on ventilators.
• Five or fewer who are positive for COVID-19 are on a BiPAP.
• 9,179 (cumulative) unique positives for COVID-19 tests including results from the ED, triage tent and inpatient. These individuals are not necessarily in the hospital.
• 46,454 (cumulative) unique negatives for COVID-19 at DCH sites.
• 11,156 (cumulative) positive COVID-19 at DCH sites. These individuals are not necessarily in the hospital.
• 90,777 (cumulative) negative tests at DCH sites.
• 3,232 inpatients (cumulative) who were positive for COVID-19 have been discharged.
• 561 inpatients (cumulative) who were positive for COVID-19 have died at DCH. This is not an indication of the cause of death, only that the individuals were positive for COVID-19 at the time of death.
• 315 Tuscaloosa County residents (cumulative) who were positive for COVID-19 have died (per the Alabama Department of Public Health).