Mission Health | Emergency & Trauma Care
We recently heard the story of a patient who was experiencing stroke symptoms, but waited several days before seeking medical help. Evidently, the patient was fearful of going to the hospital because of all he heard about coronavirus and he knew his local hospital was treating COVID-19 patients. We want you to know, hospitals and emergency rooms are safe.
While the global spread of COVID-19 has made a tremendous impact on how hospitals and physicians conduct patient care, what will never change is HCA Healthcare and Mission Health’s commitment to the safety of every patient and care facility. Yes, our hospitals are caring for patients who have tested positive for coronavirus. We take the appropriate precautions when treating those patients. We are also caring for other patients, such as those in our ERs who are experiencing chest pain, stroke symptoms or other medical emergencies.
Because our hospital caregivers deal with communicable diseases on a daily basis, we know how to identify and treat infectious illnesses while minimizing risk to caregivers, just as we have done in cases such as the seasonal flu or tuberculosis. While there may be alternative ways to handle routine medical situations, emergency concerns should still be considered critical. Our facilities are staffed with experienced clinicians who are at the ready to assist patients with emergency concerns, whether COVID-19 related or not. Red flag symptoms such as chest pain, sudden dizziness, weakness or numbness in limbs should be taken seriously, now as ever.
Mission Health provides a progressive, innovative and highly advanced emergency management system and team. These include a robust and growing Regional Transport Services, Behavioral Transport Services, Telecommunications, Regional Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Relief in addition to six emergency departments serving 18 counties in western North Carolina.
Our Regional Transport Services at Mission Health complete 25,000 inter-facility ALS ground transports, NICU transports and discharges per year while managing over 360 dedicated Critical Care Transports annually. Our team adopts progressive care models, future growth and strategic planning to continue being a leader in our industry. We continually commit to patient-centered care dedicated to quality outcomes for our patients and community.
Our hospitals have strong protocols in place and follow guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Well before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, HCA Healthcare had already taken exceptional measures to face the virus head on, and plan, prepare and mitigate its potential threat. HCA Healthcare and Mission Health are proactively engaged in the safe management of the coronavirus, and we have put a strong emphasis on ensuring that protections are in place at our sites of care. This means that our emergency departments continue to be a safe place to seek medical attention, no matter what your health concern.
HCA Healthcare and Mission Health are uniquely positioned to use our enterprise-wide resources to provide rapid support and solutions to our patients and caregivers. We maintain advanced systems to prevent the spread of any infection, including COVID-19. These clearly established protocols include access restrictions, comprehensive screenings and personal protective equipment (PPE). Our Enterprise Emergency Operations Center (EEOC) is fully operational, allowing us to coordinate and collaborate with the enterprise as a whole, so that we are drawing on resources and expertise across the organization. In this way, we are able to share our collective knowledge throughout our facilities, ensuring the most advanced and up-to-date best practices regarding respirator selection, signage, cleaning, guidance for persons under investigation (PUIs), laboratory testing and protocol guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Access to emergency services remains available to all, and patients with urgent health concerns, whether COVID-19 related or not, should not put off medical attention. If you are experiencing emergency symptoms of any kind, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or stroke symptoms, it is both safe and necessary to seek medical attention. We’re here for you.
Learn why getting help quickly when experiencing a stroke is critical. All Mission emergency departments remain open during COVID-19 Read More
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