Great Plains Health requests supplies and minimizes visitation as a proactive approach
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Fiona Libsack, chief development officer
libsackf@gphealth.org | Phone: 308.660.6658
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North Platte, Neb. March 21, 2020. Great Plains Health is taking precautionary measures as a plan for a potential surge of COVID-19 patients.
“Right now, we have what we need to take care of patients coming to our facility for care,” said Mel McNea, Great Plains Health chief executive officer. “However, we want to help ensure that this is the case going forward. While we can’t predict how North Platte will be impacted by COVID-19, we can be smart about our planning right now and prepare for any situation.”
Great Plains Health is asking individuals in the agricultural and construction industries with an excess supply of unused industrial masks, N95 masks or goggles to consider donating them for medical needs. Great Plains Health has established a drop-off station located at the main entrance,
601 W. Leota, North Platte, Neb.
In our ongoing efforts to protect our patients, staff and the public, Great Plains Health released today that they are restricting all visitors inside the facility except under exceptional circumstances. Deference will be given to symptom-free visitors that are visiting patients in the labor and delivery or emergency departments, experiencing end-of-life or in intensive care. Whenever possible, the hospital asks that patients come to the hospital or clinics alone.
Great Plains Health has also closed the following services: valet, gift shop, coffee shop and cafeteria.
“We want to thank the community for continuing to follow the CDC’s distancing recommendations,” said McNea. “We also want to ensure the public that we are taking all necessary precautions to keep our patients and health care workers safe.”
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About Great Plains Health
Based in North Platte, Nebraska, Great Plains Health is a fully accredited, 116-bed acute-care regional medical center serving western and central Nebraska, northern Kansas and north-eastern Colorado. With nearly 100 physicians representing nearly 30 medical specialties, the Great Plains Health system offers advanced healthcare including heart and vascular, cancer and orthopedic surgery services. The independent health system employs approximately 1,087 employees and serves a geographic area spanning approximately 67,832 square miles in 38 counties.
The independent hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission and is home to an American College of Surgeons-accredited cancer center, primary stroke center and level II bariatric surgery program. For more information, visit gphealth.org.