Dear Colleagues,
At all times and under every color classification, Intermountain provides emergency, medically necessary, and time-sensitive surgical procedures, visits, and services to all patients. Last week, under the State’s new Orange classification, Intermountain began scheduling some surgical procedures with no overnight stay, which had been postponed during the Red classification. We are now also opening up certain ambulatory care and clinical services. Caregiver and patient safety remain of upmost importance; we will be carefully assessing the impact of our decisions and are prepared to modify these guidelines if needed.
“Orange” services
We will now provide in-person care in the following areas, effective immediately; see lists below. Of note, to promote safety for all, we will continue to accommodate and encourage video visits wherever possible, especially if individuals feel more comfortable doing so.
IN-PERSON VISITS for patients without concern for active COVID-19 and with normal risk for COVID-19 complications (no chronic conditions and in general good health):
- Ambulatory clinic non-urgent services (examples: preventive care, wellness visits, chronic condition management, etc.)
- Dialysis and kidney services
- Homecare services
- Hyperbaric and wound care services
- Laboratory services
- Non-urgent imaging services and screening mammography
- Rehab, physical therapy, and occupational therapy services
- Respiratory care and sleep services
- Pain management
- Pharmacy and retail services
- Urgent dental services
VARIATIONS for patients with concerns for or active COVID-19, and/or at high risk for COVID-19 complications (older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions):
- Ambulatory clinic non-urgent services (examples: preventive care, wellness visits, chronic condition management, etc.): video visits only
- Dialysis and kidney services: urgent services only
- Homecare services: all services
- Hyperbaric and wound care services: urgent services only
- Laboratory services: drive-up services at select locations only
- Non-urgent imaging services and screening mammography: postponed
- Rehab, physical therapy, and occupational therapy services: urgent services only
- Respiratory care and sleep services: urgent services only
- Pain management: urgent services only
- Pharmacy and retail services: home delivery services only
- Dental services: emergency services only
Provider and caregiver teams can reference the Ambulatory Care and Clinical Services and Surgical Services decision aids for guidance around specific services and visit types. If you have further questions, consult with your local clinic, hospital, specialty, or shared service leadership team. Leaders, please reach out to Scott Stevens, MD or Ryan VanderWerff to escalate questions or concerns.
Safety precautions
Provider and caregiver teams will contact patients to screen for possible COVID-19 and level of risk for complications, assess feasibility and timing of the visit, provide guidance for PPE and COVID-19 testing needs, and to schedule. Scheduling will require flexibility should COVID-19 cases spike in our communities or as other emergencies arise. For added safety, Intermountain will work to continue to postpone non-urgent aerosolizing-generating procedures (AGPs), such as nebulized medication administration, to conserve PPE including N95s.
Facility entrance screenings, PPE requirements, signage and spacing for waiting rooms, standard droplet sanitation for all areas, in-room checkout wherever possible, and current visitor guidelines will apply. Caregivers can reference our PPE standards resource for more information.
Steps toward recovery
With the partnership of state and local government leaders, public health officials, and other health systems, Intermountain will continue to monitor the level of COVID-19 risk to our communities and resources needed for response. We’ll regularly update and work together with leaders and teams toward recovery and stabilization, while sustaining preparedness efforts around all possible scenarios including a surge.
Sincerely,
Nannette Berensen
VP, Chief Operating Officer,
Clinical Shared Services
Rebekah Couper-Noles MSN, MHA
VP Operations,
Intermountain Medical Group
Shannon Phillips, MD
Interim, CMO, Community-Based Care
Chief Patient Experience Officer