Helping Keep You and Our Community Safe
At Doctors Hospital of Laredo, patient safety is always our top priority. Below are answers to frequently asked questions regarding the extraordinary measures we are taking during the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep patients, physicians, staff and the community safe.
Q: What steps has the hospital taken to help ensure the ongoing health and safety of patients, their families, its staff and the community?
Amidst COVID-19, we are following the guidelines of the Laredo Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our local Infection Control and Prevention Team. We have implemented extra precautionary measures and additional safety protocols for our staff, physicians and patients to help ensure a safe and clean environment. These include, but are not limited to:
- Universal masking of all persons entering the hospital
- Isolation of patients with COVID-19
- COVID-19 testing of patients prior to surgery
- Provision of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for caregivers
- Temperature checks
- Screening questionnaires upon entrance
- Suspension of visitation
- Rigorous cleaning and disinfection
- UV light disinfection
Q: What does limited visitation mean?
We have suspended visitation for the health and safety of everyone in our care. Please visit our COVID-19 update page for complete details on our current visitation policy.
Q: Is it safe to go to the Emergency Department when experiencing a medical emergency?
Yes, the hospital has taken extra measures to help keep everyone safe, including the separation and isolation of any patients suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19. Seeking critical emergency care can be life-saving. Patients experiencing serious injuries or medical symptoms such as chest pain, numbness, difficulty breathing or mental confusion should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department — it could save your life.
Q: Can a person seeking emergency care in the ER or coming to the hospital for Outpatient Surgery be accompanied by a family member or friend?
No visitors may accompany a person seeking care in the ED (with limited exceptions). For outpatient procedures, including surgery, radiology, lab and other visits, no visitors are permitted in the waiting areas or within the hospital building.
Loved ones and friends accompanying the patient are asked to remain in their cars or be available by cell phone so that we can call them to pick up the patient at discharge.
Q: When should an individual suspected with or confirmed positive for COVID-19 go to the Emergency Department?
Individuals with mild or moderate symptoms are advised to call their healthcare provider or visit an urgent care center. If symptoms intensify and cannot be managed at home, individuals should call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Q: What should a person and visitor expect upon arrival to Doctors Hospital of Laredo?
Upon arrival at the hospital, visitors are subject to temperature check and screening.
Any individual who has been in contact with a person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 within the last 14 days; or who has had a cough or flu-like symptoms, including sore throat, headache, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal pain; loss of taste or smell in the last 24 hours; felt feverish or experienced chills in the last 48 hours; or had a fever of 100°F or higher in the last 48 hours, will be prohibited from entering the hospital.
Travel history will be queried: those who have had travel outside the country or domestically within the last 14 days will not be permitted to proceed within the hospital.
Anyone suspected with or confirmed positive for COVID-19 will be separated and isolated.
These steps will help prohibit people with symptoms or risk factors from entering the building.
Q: If a patient is required to have a pre-operative clearance visit and pre-admission testing, are virtual options available?
Virtual visits are not available for pre-operative clearance. For information about pre-admission testing including scheduled hours and laboratory options, please contact your primary care physician's office directly.
Q: How far in advance should a patient schedule pre-operative testing?
We recommend patients plan ahead to ensure all pre-operative testing requirements are completed prior to surgery. The physician's office will provide you with your pre-operative testing date. If you need to cancel or make changes to the date, please contact your physician's office.
Q: If a patient tests positive for COVID-19 during pre-admission testing, how will their surgery be affected?
Patients testing positive for COVID-19 will be instructed to self-isolate for 14 days. The hospital will re-test the patient prior to scheduling a new surgery date.
Q: With visitation limited, how can patients connect with loved ones before and after surgery?
Patients can utilize virtual options such as phone calls, FaceTime, Zoom, Skype and other communications on their mobile device before and after surgery.
Q: What is the hospital doing to help ensure appropriate social distancing?
The hospital encourages a 6-foot distance between people within the common areas of the hospital, and requests patients adhere to distancing etiquette.
Q: When will elective (non-essential) surgeries and procedures resume at Doctors Hospital of Laredo?
The hospital resumed elective cases on May 4, 2020.