“Even during this very trying time, we remain solely focused on our mission of providing the highest quality healthcare to the communities we serve and in a manner where patients receive compassionate and personalized care”
TRINIDAD, CO–Mount San Rafael Hospital would like to respond to the recent report by All Things 81082 regarding COVID-19 testing of inpatients at the hospital facility and those quarantined at home.
Mt. San Rafael Hospital currently has one inpatient at the facility who has been tested for COVID-19 and that test submitted to the state for analysis; however, those test results are still pending.
To date, Mount San Rafael Hospital has submitted 84 tests to the state for analysis. Of those, three have results still pending. All others have been returned and there are THREE confirmed cases in Las Animas County.
Mt. San Rafael Hospital has many layers of protection in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients and staff. At this time, we continue to have our added protocols in place by not accepting visitors either in the hospital or at any of the hospital clinics. At each of the hospital and clinic entrances, clinical staff are serving as screeners and are in place to check every person coming to the hospital and clinics for services.
Should someone present at any entrance with symptoms, contact with a known positive COVID-19 test, or traveled recently either out of state or to one of the Health Department’s identified hot spots in Colorado, the patient is promptly masked prior to entering the facility for services. The screener completes a checklist and the patient is directed accordingly. The Emergency Department also has a strict protocol in place for when patients present at the ER for care including a “doorbell” system where patients can “ring in” and be screened outside the facility and be directed accordingly prior to entering the building for care.
When appropriate, the patient is masked and the medical personnel providing care for the patient are in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) according to the State Health Department and CDC guidelines.
In addition to our many patient protocols, Mt. San Rafael Hospital is also taking every precaution by adhering to strict guidelines for the cleaning of surfaces throughout the hospital and clinics. We have closed our cafeteria to the public and are only serving patients, staff, and medical partners. The Gift Shop is also currently closed to the public until further notice.
Mt. San Rafael Hospital and Clinics continue to work extremely closely with our local Health Department and State officials to ensure all protocols are being followed. As the COVID-19 situation in our community continues to remain very fluid – with orders and guidelines changing regularly – our
leadership team consults with the Health Department and other community partners daily to ensure compliance in all areas related to protecting our community during this difficult time. To that end, please be reassured, staff and medical partners are using the appropriate PPE while managing each patient’s care. We understand and acknowledge that PPE is in limited supply. And, therefore, we are doing everything in our power to conserve the resources we have available, while also ensuring there are no gaps in safety for our patients and staff.
Even during this very trying time, we remain solely focused on our mission of providing the highest quality healthcare to the communities we serve and in a manner where patients receive compassionate and personalized care.
Kim Lucero
Director of Planning and Development
Mount San Rafael Hospital
410 Benedicta Avenue
Trinidad, CO 81082
Office: 719-846-8053
Fax: 719-846-2752
