WCH Nursing Care Center Identifies a Positive COVID-19 Case

Washington County Hospital has identified a positive COVID19 case within their Nursing Care Center, which is a long-term care unit. While extensive precautions have been taken over the last many weeks to best protect the residents of the unit, one resident was identified as positive on Saturday, April 18th. All families of the residents and on the unit, and unit staff, have been notified. Washington County Hospital has been actively working with the Washington County Public Health Department through the initial testing and follow-up testing/evaluation that is taking place.
To best limit further exposure, all unit employees and residents will be tested. The first phase of testing has been conducted, with results pending. The resident is isolated and those contacts that have had at-risk exposure will be on quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.
Washington County Hospital has and will continue extensive steps to protect our patients, residents, and staff including the following:
 Closure of the Nursing Care Center to all visitors, which began on March 13, and the minimization of staff crossing between the unit and the hospital
 Active screening of patients and staff daily, including temperatures
 All staff and at risk patients wear masks in all patient care areas
 Adherence to the CDC Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines in every circumstance.
Washington County Hospital encourages everyone to help reduce the number of cases in our area by adhering to the stay at home order, washing hands frequently, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, and maintaining space of at least six feet from others. Refer to trusted sources for information including our website (www.washingtoncountyhospital.org), the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the CDC.
About Washington County Hospital Washington County Hospital is a 22 bed Critical Access Hospital (CAH) accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC). We provide acute care, swing/skilled care, surgical services, specialty clinic services and a full range of ancillary services. We also have a 28 bed Nursing Care Unit long term care unit. WCH is located in Nashville, IL just 50 miles east of St. Louis, MO. WCH is affiliated with SSM Healthcare St. Louis and SSM St. Mary’s/ Good Samaritan, Inc. in Centralia
and Mt. Vernon. For more information, see www.washingtoncountyhospital.org. Like WCH on
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