Sonora, CA….Adventist Health Sonora is resuming some surgeries and procedures as well as additional outpatient services, in response to the governor’s executive order, which allows hospitals and other care settings to resume essential procedures that require personal protective equipment, if criteria given by the California Department of Public Health are met.

Everyone at Adventist Health Sonora has been working hard to continually adapt to the changing situation with COVID-19. As services gradually resume, patient safety is the highest priority. Adventist Health Sonora has instituted policies and procedures aligned with state and national guidelines to protect patients and their loved ones. These include:
◦ Using enhanced disinfection procedures
◦ Screening everyone entering the hospital or medical offices for COVID-19 symptoms
◦ Requiring masks for both patients and staff
◦ Restricting all visitors. (One visitor is allowed for pediatric, Birth Center or palliative care patients or when medically necessary.)
◦ Limiting the number of patients in waiting rooms

“The state provided criteria to guide the process, and I am pleased to report that we have met all of the requirements and have resumed surgical cases and other services,” says Michelle Fuentes, Adventist Health Sonora president. “I am grateful for our team’s hard work to pull together all of the elements necessary to provide our patients with high-quality care in a safe environment that follows the latest guidelines from the California Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Most services are now available for patients, with a few that are awaiting state guidance on the re-opening process. The following services are open, or preparing to open, with COVID-19 precautions in place:
Birth Center – The safety of mother and baby is Adventist Health’s highest priority, and the team’s goal is to provide a comfortable environment for patients. At this time, only one visitor is allowed and must be screened prior to entering. Patients admitted to the Birth Center will be tested for COVID-19 to ensure that proper precautions are in place for mother and baby.

Cardiopulmonary Services – The pulmonary function lab is operational with limited appointments due to COVID-19 precautions. Cardiac testing including EKG, exercise stress tests and Holter monitor tests are available.
Center for Wound Care is fully operational.

Clinic Services – Primary care and specialty medical offices are open, offering telephone, virtual and in-person visits.
Community Pharmacy – Both outpatient pharmacies are open and offering walk-in service.
Diana J. White Cancer Institute – The Cancer Institute remains fully operational.
Diagnostic Imaging – Diagnostic imaging has been offering services at the main hospital campus and will increase exams and screenings at the Health Pavilion beginning June 1. These include screening mammography, MRI, PET CT and ultrasound. Walk-in X-ray services are currently available at the hospital from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Scheduling is available by calling 209-536-3437.

Emergency Department – The emergency department has remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and has stringent procedures in place to protect patients and staff. Any patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are cared for in private, negative-pressure rooms until test results are determined. The emergency department is safe and anyone experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, stroke-like symptoms, broken bones or other illnesses or injury are encouraged to seek care right away, before health conditions worsen.

Lab – The clinical laboratory is currently operating one outpatient lab draw station, with plans to reopen a second location in June.

Now open, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Professional Center, second floor, 900 Greenley Road, Sonora

Opening June 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Health Pavilion, second floor, 900 Mono Way, Sonora
Live Well Be Well Center

Anticoagulation clinic is fully operational.
Cardiac Rehabilitation and Pulmonary Rehabilitation are planning the reopening process.
Diabetes Resource Center is providing telephone and in-person visits.
Nutritional Therapy is fully operational, offering telephone, virtual and in-person visits. Closed Fridays.
Travel Clinic is available as needed.

Medical Records – Health Information Management staff are processing medical record requests via fax, phone or email. Please call 209-536-3300 for assistance.

Oxygen and Medical Supply is open with in-home service for existing patients and curbside service available. Closed Mondays.

Physical Medicine is fully operational, offering pain procedures, with limited capacity due to COVID-19 precautions in place.

Rapid Care – Indian Rock is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Angels Camp remains closed.
Rehabilitation –Physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists are seeing most patients in-person and offering virtual visits for those who are high-risk.

Rural Health – All Rural Health clinics are open, including Primary Care, Pediatric Care, Specialty Care and Behavioral Health, offering telephone, virtual and in-person visits. Dental Care is open for emergencies and planning the re-opening process for all other dental care needs.

Sierra Care Center – The long-term care facilities are taking the highest precautions by restricting all visitors to protect the safety of our most vulnerable residents.

Sleep Lab is fully operational seven days per week.
Surgery, GI Lab and Cath Lab are fully operational for both urgent/emergency cases and elective surgeries and procedures, with limited capacity due to COVID-19 precautions in place.

About Adventist Health Sonora
Adventist Health Sonora is a not-for-profit 152-bed health care facility including 72 acute beds, 12 swing beds, 68 skilled nursing beds and a large network of clinics, owned and operated by Adventist Health in Roseville, California. In addition to emergency and acute care services, other Adventist Health Sonora services include advanced cardiac care, cancer center, diagnostic imaging, home health, hospice, intensive care, obstetrics, rural health, surgical services, wellness center, wound care and hyperbaric oxygen, and over 20 primary care, urgent care and specialty clinics. The Medical Center provided care for 159,498 outpatient visits, 89,983 diagnostic imaging tests, 29,107 home care visits, 31,150 emergency department visits, and 4,421 hospital discharges in 2017. Staffed by over 180 physicians, 1,490 employees, and 120 volunteers, Adventist Health Sonora is the largest private employer in Tuolumne County. For more information about the Medical Center visit www.adventisthealthsonora.org.
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