News

Cass Regional Medical Center continues to monitor developments regarding the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and its potential impact on the hospital and area communities.

Yesterday, the Cass County Health Department announced the first presumed positive case of COVID-19 in Cass County. The infected person lives in Drexel, and is quarantined at home. They were not treated at Cass Regional Medical Center nor any of its affiliated clinics.

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, Cass Regional has implemented additional precautionary measures.

• No-Visitor Policy – Effective Wednesday, March 18, Cass Regional will implement a no-visitor policy. Exceptions include: allowing one caregiver for minor or mentally-disabled patients; one caregiver/driver for surgery and/or outpatient testing; one caregiver/driver for Emergency Department or clinic visits; and one dedicated family member where end of life care is being given. If a visitor is identified to have one or more risk factors during screening at the hospital entry doors, he or she will not be allowed to enter the facility.
• Volunteers – Effective Wednesday, March 18, Cass Regional will discontinue the use of volunteers throughout the medical center and at Rock Haven Medical Mall. This decision was made to protect the health and wellbeing of the volunteers, who will be welcome to return to their volunteer positions after the COVID-19 emergency is over.
• Students – Effective immediately, though at least April 5, clinical rotations for many students will be canceled. This decision does not impact medical or nurse practitioner students; however, these students will not be allowed to participate in the care of a positive patient, presumed positive patient, or patient under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19.

Surge Planning

Cass Regional continues to work with Missouri Hospital Association officials to encourage the state of Missouri to enact waivers approved by federal government on Friday, March 13. The waiver in question would allow critical access hospitals such as Cass Regional Medical Center to exceed the current limit of 25 patient beds.

Elective Surgeries

The American College of Surgeons and the U.S. Surgeon General have sent out recommendations for surgeons in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. To preserve acute care hospitals’ capacity to provide services to COVID-19 patients, they asked that hospitals, hospital systems, and surgeons “thoughtfully review all scheduled elective procedures.”

Cass Regional currently has the capacity and supplies to provide all medically necessary services to COVID-19 patients. At this time, the hospital is not postponing any surgeries or procedures. Cass Regional continues to actively monitor the COVID-19 situation in the area, and in the future may ask providers to consider postponing, for at least 30 days, any surgery or procedure that will not, in the provider’s judgment, adversely affect the patient’s short or long-term health. Cass Regional encourages patients who are scheduled for surgery to contact their doctor if they have questions or concerns.

COVID-19 Hotline

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ COVID-19 hotline can be reached at 877-435-8411. The hotline is being operated by medical professionals and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All requests for COVID-19 testing should go through the hotline.

As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves, Cass Regional will continue to provide updates on its preparedness efforts. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov and www.cassregional.org.