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1. Have you reached out to Inova Loudoun and Stone Springs hospitals to ascertain whether they could accommodate ancillary treatment facilities such as tents or trailers?

(Posted 3/10/20): Loudoun County Health Department is working closely with StoneSprings and Inova Loudoun Hospital on preparations for addressing surges in demand for emergency department services, including sufficient supplies. This builds on work done with Inova Loudoun Hospital around the H1N1 pandemic. The county is fortunate that both hospitals are part of systems in Northern Virginia that have active teams working on how best to keep their hospitals safe and effective in addressing their communities’ needs.

Additional guidance for healthcare facilities is provided by the CDC.

2. If things get much worse, are hospitals safe to women to deliver, for people who have suppressed immune systems, etc.?

(Posted 3/11/20): Our hospitals have systems in place to keep their patients safe. It is recommended that people who need emergency or inpatient care continue to go to the hospital, while those without this need continue to see their primary care provider for routine medical care.

3. How have local hospitals and clinics prepared for a major COVID-19 outbreak?

(Posted 3/11/20): Loudoun County Health Department is working closely with StoneSprings and Inova Loudoun Hospital on preparations for addressing surges in demand for emergency department services, including sufficient supplies and the potential need for medical tents or trailers. This builds on work done with Inova Loudoun Hospital around the H1N1 pandemic. The county is fortunate that both hospitals are part of systems in Northern Virginia that have active teams working on how best to keep their hospitals safe and effective in addressing their communities’ needs.

4. Are hospitals capable of handling large numbers of COVID 19 symptomatic patients showing up in the emergency rooms unannounced?

(Posted 3/11/20): During an outbreak, our healthcare system relies on sick people being evaluated in the most appropriate setting.  Fortunately, it appears that the large percentage of people who may become infected with COVID-19 do not need emergency care.  To best address the increased demand for medical evaluation, this includes private providers conducting phone triage of their “worried well” patients who may not need evaluation, private providers seeing those are stable who do need evaluation, and emergency departments for those who have more serious symptoms.  Additionally, our hospitals are actively planning on how best to address a surge in patients presenting to emergency departments.

5. What are the maximum number of COVID-19 patients that our hospitals can handle?

(Posted 3/11/20): Hospitals have limitations on such resources on emergency department, negative pressure rooms, inpatient and intensive care unit beds.  Each of these can be impacted by COVID-19.  Our hospitals do have some ability to surge capacity within their facilities and a more robust ability to surge within their hospital systems.  Additionally our hospitals are actively working through other means of further surging capacity.

6. Do local hospitals have contingencies to augment staff, particularly if other local hospitals have a simultaneous need for augmented staff?

(Posted 3/11/20): Our hospitals do have contingency plans to augment staff.  Depending on how other hospitals and communities are impacted, this could include shifting staff from other staff within their hospital system, using contract staff, and increasing the hours of existing staff.  Additionally, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers can assist if needed in specific areas that could free up hospital staff to address higher level functions.

7. Should people with symptoms call hospital emergency rooms before they go to the emergency room?

(Posted 3/11/20): If it is not an emergency, people with symptoms should call their primary care provider.  If they do need to go to the emergency room, they should call ahead if possible.  Similarly, if they need an ambulance, it is important they notify the dispatcher that they suspect they may have COVID-19.