Here at Samaritan, your health and well-being are our greatest priority. We have taken comprehensive steps to make sure your care is safe for everyone involved.
It all starts in the way you enter our building. As a surgical patient, you will use the main entrance to the hospital, which is currently a dedicated entrance for you. No other patients, visitors, or staff will be using this entrance. When you arrive, you will be screened – which involves asking you a few questions and taking your temperature – and checked in by our staff while you remain in the comfort of your vehicle. We will also ask your loved one for their contact information so we can keep in touch with them throughout your procedure.
After giving you a medical-grade face mask for safety, our staff will show you through the entrance and promptly escort you upstairs, where your surgical team will be waiting for you. In the waiting room, chairs are six feet apart, following social distancing best practices for patients. All staff will be wearing appropriate protective equipment, for your safety and for theirs.
As directed by New York State Department of Health, visitors or support persons are not permitted to accompany surgical patients into the building. Our caring physicians, nurses, and staff will make every attempt to help patients feel comfortable during what we understand to be an anxious time.
Immediately after your surgery, the surgeon will call your family member or support person to provide an update on how you are doing. Our care team will have already been in contact with your loved one, calling or texting them to provide updates.
Once you are safely discharged, we will ask your family member or support person to meet us at the main entrance of the hospital – the same place they dropped you off at for your procedure. Our staff will bring you to their vehicle and explain your discharge instructions, ensuring you get safely on your way home. A day after surgery, one of our Resource Line Nurses will call to follow up with you, ensuring that your recovery is going smoothly, you have not recently developed any COVID-19 symptoms and answer any questions you may have.
Please do not put your health on hold because of COVID-19. If your physician recommends moving forward with surgery, you can rest assured knowing Samaritan Medical Center is here for you. Let us take care of you today, so when the time comes to safely reunite with family and friends, you’ll be ready.
