Hospital Safety: Frequently Asked Questions

Our hospital is clean and safe -- just like it always has been! One of the core elements of properly managing infectious diseases is the cleanliness of our physical facility. All patients who have been treated for Covid-19 have been treated in a specially designed isolation unit away from all other patient areas, which features a negative-pressure unit that cleans the air and forces it out of the building.

Our clinical teams will conduct twice daily "go/no-go" meetings in which they will review crucial supplies such as PPE, medications, blood, space and staffing to ensure that we have enough to comfortably care for those undergoing elective/non-urgent procedures AND accommodate our normal emergency care and potential COVID-19 patients.

We are not booking our schedules to full capacity. Out of an abundance of caution and with the conservation of supplies in mind, we are not starting with a full schedule right away. Should things continue to progress positively, we'll increase our capacity on a week-by-week basis. This is for your safety and ours.

Our team regularly monitors staffing levels to ensure a safe environment for all patients, providers and employees. In addition, we screen all employees daily for COVID-19 symptoms. We are confident that we have the appropriate staff and providers to resume elective and non-urgent procedures while also accommodating our normal emergency care and potential COVID-19 patients.

Your experience in our facility may look a little different than in the past, but this is because we have new processes and procedures in place to further protect your health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upon arrival at the facility, you will be asked the same standard screening questions and provided with a mask (if you do not already have one). If you have your own mask that covers your mouth and nose, you can wear that. 

We continue to operate under a zero-visitor protocol out of an abundance of caution, so your family member/spouse/friend/caregiver will not be permitted to enter the hospital. We will give them parking instructions and gather their contact information so we can follow up with them to provide an update after your procedure and share instructions for pick up at the front lobby of Sumner Regional. 

You may never see another patient while you are here, and that is intentional for now. We are currently trying to minimize overlap in an effort to promote social distancing, conserve resources, and protect the safety of all of our patients and employees.

You are going to be asked COVID-19 screening questions multiple times by multiple people, up until you are admitted for your procedure. You may get tired of these questions, but we assure you they are for your health and safety, and that of our staff. 

You may never see the faces of your care team members under their protective equipment! We do apologize for this, as the personal connections we have with our patients and community are what keep us going. However, this is an important precaution we are taking to protect you and our clinical staff.

The questions are part of our standard COVID-19 screening process and include asking if you have....

• Fever
• Cough 
• Shortness of Breath
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

Whenever you are asked, please answer these screening questions honestly. If your procedure has to be postponed, it will be just that: postponed. It does NOT mean it will be canceled, and we will work with you to reschedule as soon as possible.

If you are having a surgical procedure, you will be asked to practice "safer at home" behaviors for seven (7) days to minimize potential exposure prior to your procedure. This means going a step further from social distancing -- trying only to leave your home for critical needs such as groceries or going to the pharmacy.

If you need to leave for an essential purpose, you must wear a mask. You also will be asked to check your temperature twice a day during this seven-day period and report any result above 100°F to your provider. Finally, you will be tested for COVID-19 prior to your procedure as an additional precaution.

If you are having an imaging procedure, you will be screened and masked, but not tested for COVID-19.

If you're having surgery, yes. You will be contacted by a Patient Access Representative at Sumner Regional Medical Center to schedule your test and provide you with directions to the testing location. You must be tested within 24 hours of your procedure, but will be tested from the safety of your car. Results will be available in 60-90 minutes. If your test is negative, you'll proceed to the front lobby for any additional labs or tests needed for your procedure. If your test is positive, your procedure may be postponed, you will be given instructions related to your care, and you will be contacted by the Sumner County Health Department.

Please see the latest Visitation Guidelines

When you arrive at the facility, you will be asked the same standard screening questions and provided with a mask (if you do not already have one). If you have your own mask that covers your mouth and nose, you can wear that.

All patients who test positive for an infectious disease, including COVID-19, are isolated for treatment in accordance with Tennessee Department of Health and CDC guidelines. Our hospital has a dedicated isolation unit/wing for treatment of patients under investigation (PUIs) and patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

If you have any questions, please call our team at 615-328-6175.