Return to some normalcy at Floyd County Medical Center Clinic

To The Press

The Floyd County Medical Center announced it is changing some of the provisions of its respiratory clinic as the number of COVID-19 cases has declined in the county, so that a more normal patient flow can resume through the clinic.

Starting today (Tuesday), patients needing to utilize the respiratory clinic will enter through the west side of the clinic building through a secure entrance, the medical center announced.

Additional signage has been placed to help patients find their way to this entrance and parking has been designated for these patients as well. Upon arrival, patients will call 641-228-5151 to check-in for their appointment.

Once checked in, Sarah McIntire, CMA, will meet them at the entrance and bring the patient into the clinic for the appointment.

By making these changes, patients who are experiencing respiratory symptoms can still be isolated from non-respiratory patients and a norma” flow of patients can return, the medical center said.

As concerns about COVID-19 developed, administration and staff at the Floyd County Medical Center developed a plan for a respiratory clinic to deal with patients with possible COVID-19 exposure and other respiratory conditions.

Respiratory clinic patients had a separate entrance to the clinic and a separate check-in area, and Joanne Starr, ARPN, and McIntire began seeing patients in the respiratory clinic on March 23.

Other clinic providers saw their patients in a different part of the clinic, which worked well because the number of patients being seen at the clinic had decreased because of COVID-19 mitigation efforts, the medical center reported.

Since that time, Starr and McIntire have continued to staff the respiratory clinic, sometimes seeing as many as 13 patients a day.

In recent weeks, however, the number of patients seen in the respiratory clinic have declined, with an average of about 5 patients a day.

With the decline in numbers of patients seen in the respiratory clinic and a return to normal patient volumes in the remainder of the clinic, the decision was made for the changes being announced.

As before, any patient experiencing respiratory symptoms is asked to contact the clinic by phone at 641-228-5151 to be triaged to the best place of service for their symptoms.