Newswise — LOS ANGELES – Keck Medicine of USC has taken many precautions to protect patients and staff in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the growing number of cases in California, the health system is taking several new measures to combat the virus:
New Procedures:
- Many elective inpatient and outpatient surgeries will be rescheduled on a case-by-case basis.
- Keck Medicine has established an isolated screening facility for health care workers and patients exhibiting viral symptoms at its Keck Hospital of USC location.
- An increased number of patients are using telemedicine for appointments.
New Preventive Measures:
- Keck Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital have initiated a no-visitor policy for admitted patients, with exceptions for patients who are at end of life or other critical situations.
- Keck Medical Center of USC buildings have limited entry points and fever screenings are taking place at all clinical entry points. Visitors to outpatient locations will be screened for fever upon check-in.
- Anyone with respiratory symptoms or fever will be given a mask and redirected based on assessment of their clinical condition.
- Medical students at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have been pulled from clinical rounds and from working directly with patients at Keck Medicine clinical locations.
“As COVID-19 spreads, we will continue to take all necessary precautions to protect our patients, staff and community and to effectively manage this virus,” says Rodney Hanners, COO of Keck Medicine and CEO of Keck Medical Center. “All of our efforts right now are directed at developing procedures and protocols to provide our patients and community with compassionate care while ensuring their safety.”
Learn more about Keck Medicine COVID-19 efforts by visiting its COVID-19 website. For more information about how USC is handling the outbreak, please visit usc.edu.
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Editor’s Note: Hanners is available for media interviews. For an interview, please contact Meg Aldrich at [email protected].
Keck Medicine of USC is one of only two university-based medical systems in the Los Angeles area. Its internationally renowned physicians and scientists provide world-class patient care at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and more than 80 outpatient clinics in Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Tulare and Ventura counties.
Keck Medical Center was ranked No. 16 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2019-20 Best Hospital Honor Roll and among the top 3 hospitals in Los Angeles and top 5 in California. The hospital also ranked in the top 4 in urology (tie); top 10 in geriatrics; top 15 in ophthalmology, cardiology & heart surgery, gastroenterology & GI surgery and nephrology; top 20 in neurology & neurosurgery; top 25 in cancer; and top 35 in pulmonology & lung surgery.
For more information, visit KeckMedicine.org.
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