COVID-19 Update from Beverly Hospital (updated 5/11/2020)

5/7/2020: Beverly Hospital Surgical Services to Reopen for Elective Surgeries

At Beverly Hospital, we have done a tremendous job in keeping our patients, physicians and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. And we will continue our vigilance as we re-open our operating rooms to elective surgeries. Strict protocols have been instituted to ensure the safety of our, physicians, staff and the patients we serve.
 
Based on recent guidelines from the State of California, we are scheduling the re-start of elective surgeries and procedures beginning May 18, 2020. Urgent and emergent cases will continue to be scheduled in all service areas. We are looking forward to once again providing excellent surgical services to our physicians and patients. There have been many questions since the release of the ban on elective surgeries and our goal is for our patients to feel safe during their time spent at Beverly Hospital.
 
Our patient’s health and the health of our physicians and employees, are our priority. Every decision we make is through that lens. We want to be sure that the approach we're taking in re-starting our elective surgeries is safe and well thought out.
 
Krishna Narayanan, M.D. Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Beverly Hospital states, “Newly updated procedures have been developed and will be followed to meet infection control requirements for elective surgeries. Rest assured that the guidelines that have been implemented meet social distancing requirements for our patient population.”
 
During this time, Beverly Hospital will continuously evaluate whether there remains a low risk of patient infection and will be prepared to cease elective surgeries if there is a surge in COVID-19 cases.


4/16/2020:  Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing at Beverly Hospital

Beginning Monday, April 20, 2020 Beverly Hospital in Montebello, CA will host “drive through” COVID-19 testing in the physicians parking lot located off of Hardy Avenue.  If you are exhibiting symptoms of the COVID-19 Coronavirus, you can now be tested via “Drive Through Testing” at Beverly Hospital. In order to be tested you MUST register and receive an appointment from the Los Angeles County COVID-19 testing website: https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/.
 
Days:              Monday through Friday
Times:                         9:00 - 3:00 pm
Location:                    Beverly Hospital
                                    309 West Beverly Blvd.
                                    Montebello, CA 90640
                                    Physicians parking lot - Enter via Harding Ave.
 
Working in conjunction with LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis to promote the testing,  she states, “Many of our hardest working families are either uninsured or underinsured and don’t normally seek access to health care which is why increasing access to COVID-19 mobile testing sites remains one of my top priorities.” Supervisor Solis continues, “We are in this public health crisis together. This virus does not discriminate; it has the potential to impact all of our communities.”
 
State Assemblymember Cristina Garcia, whose district includes Beverly Hospital adds, “Thank you to Beverly Hospital for partnering to open this much needed testing site in Southeast Los Angeles County. The Southeast has some of the worst air quality and many environmental hazards like lead in the country. We know this is exacerbating the health problems associated with COVID-19. I’m happy that, together, we will be able to ensure that people in the Southeast have access to drive-through testing and that more facilities and resources will continue to be extending in this region.”
 
For more information regarding drive through COVID-19 testing, please visit the LA County  COVID-19 website at https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/.


4/15/2020: Beverly Hospital Emergency Care Center Remains Open During COVID-19 Pandemic
 
Beverly Hospital in Montebello, CA wants community members to know that the Emergency Care Center remains open and continues to see non COVID-19 patients. "It’s important for people to know that the emergency department at Beverly Hospital continues to be open 24/7, 365." states Joseph Chan, MD - Medical Director of the Emergency Department.
 
People shouldn't hesitate to come to the hospital if they're having a true emergency. Dr. Chan continues, "If a person is having chest pain, severe abdominal pain or any other health issue, don’t wait. Come into our Emergency Care Center to be taken care of. You don’t want something that is treatable to become a life threatening health condition."
 
For those people concerned about coming to the Emergency Care Center and possibly contracting COVID-19 from other patients, Dr. Chan says that, “Beverly Hospital is screening COVID-19 patients and keeping them separated from others. We’re using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPEs) including masks, gloves, face shields and gowns to protect the health of our patients, visitors, medical staff and employees. We’re stressing the use of appropriate hygiene including hand washing and disinfecting. And finally we are expediting people’s care in and out of the emergency department."
 
Beverly Hospital’s emergency medical staff are here to evaluate people, we're here to treat, we're here to stabilize, we're here to take care of those with healthcare needs whether they have COVID-19 or not.
 

4/7/2020:  Beverly Hospital’s latest news on the Fight Against COVID-19. We are here to keep our community informed:
 
COVID-19 Testing

• We are closely following the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidelines for testing.
• Testing resources are available for emergency department patients and inpatients who meet the criteria.
• We are currently unable to test community members but are working to expand testing capabilities in the near future.

 
Clinic Operations

• The Center for Advanced Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine at Beverly Hospital is still seeing patients with critical wound care needs. There are procedures in place to screen and protect against COVID-19.
• We implore you or to speak with those with wound care needs to continue coming to appointments and to call ahead of time.
• For any questions, please call the Wound Care Center at (323) 725-5066

 
Visitor Guidelines
In order to protect patients, staff, physicians, and the community, the following guidelines are in place:

• No visitors will be allowed for all inpatient areas including ICU.
• An exception of ONE (1) visitor per patient per day is allowed only for maternity and minors.
• Patients facing End of Life circumstances will be permitted TWO (2) visitors but visitors will be asked to stand outside of the room.
• We encourage the use of FaceTime, Skype or other applications to communicate with loved ones.
• Family and friends are able to send greeting cards as another means of communicating: www.beverly.org/greeting-card/

 
How the Community Can Help
We understand the large impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on everyone. Like it has been since 1949, Beverly Hospital will continue to be here and is committed do what it takes to provide quality and compassionate care for our patients and frontline personnel throughout this crisis.

• Thank you to our many community partners and caring individuals for answering the call by donating (purchased or handcrafted) critical protection supplies or food to keep staff safely protected and with high morale during this crisis.
• For more information or questions, please contact the Beverly Foundation at (323) 725-4264 or email at Foundationinfo@beverly.org or visit https://www.beverly.org/ppedonate/
• Donations are accepted in person (lobby delivery) or by mail: Beverly Hospital, 309 W. Beverly Blvd, Montebello, CA  90640
• Monetary Donations can be made at: http://www.bit.ly/bhfoundationcovid19
• During this time, blood, plasma, and platelet donations are at an all-time low. This leaves patients who are in dire need of these donations in life-threatening danger. The Red Cross is working to set up as many donation opportunities as possible while keeping safety from COVID-19 in mind. If you are able to, please consider donating: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?order=DATE&range=10&zipSponsor=90640

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Supplies

• We are working with our suppliers and the Disaster Resource Center to receive inventory of PPE and other supplies in order to best serve our patients and protect our staff.
• A tremendous thanks to our community for their response by donating much needed supplies and sharing information about our need.
• Inventory is low on the following items and once again we are asking the community for assistance with obtaining or sharing this information:

• Masks (N95, KN95, Respirator)
• Shoe and Head Covers
• Gloves (Nitrile, Vinyl)
• Face Shields
• Goggles
• Body Suits, Robes, Lab coats
• Hooded Isolation Garments
• Soap
• Hospital-grade Sanitizing Gels and Wipes
• Ventilators