Southwest IL hospital moving walk-in clinic patients to conference room as COVID surges
A metro-east hospital is temporarily moving its walk-in clinic patients from the emergency room to a conference room during peak hours because of a COVID-19 surge.
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland announced Friday that its PrimeCare clinic would see patients for unscheduled, non-emergency care in the hospital’s Sullivan Conference Room between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. starting Tuesday. Those patients used to go into the emergency room to register to see a PrimeCare clinic provider.
“With the recent surge in COVID-19, we have seen an influx of patients in our emergency department and PrimeCare clinic,” Teresa Cornelius, chief nursing officer, stated in a news release. “Moving this service during its peak hours will help alleviate wait times and allow for proper social distancing in waiting areas.”
Hospitalizations have been increasing since November, according to statistics reported by the St. Clair County Health Department. The county collects numbers from HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Memorial Hospital and Touchette Regional Hospital.
In the most recent update from Wednesday, the health department reported:
- A total of 128 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized across the hospital systems.
- 64% of them — 82 out of 128 — were unvaccinated.
- 18 people were in the intensive care unit.
- 12 people were using ventilators.
On Nov. 10, the health department reported that a total of 18 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized, with two in the ICU and no one using a ventilator.
Beginning Tuesday, St. Joseph’s Hospital is asking patients seeking clinic care to enter through the medical office building to be directed to the conference room.
From 7-9 a.m. and from 5-7 p.m., patients can continue visiting the clinic through the emergency entrance.
“Additionally, as we navigate the current surge of COVID-19 in our community, we want to remind the community to continue to mask, wash your hands, stay home when you are sick and get vaccinated,” Cornelius, the hospital’s chief nursing officer, stated.
This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Southwest IL hospital moving walk-in clinic patients to conference room as COVID surges."
