Published March 16, 2020
MOBILE, Ala. (March 16, 2020) Because of the COVID-19 global pandemic, USA Health is taking all reasonable precautions to keep our community safe and informed based on guidance from experts in public health and infectious disease. Please see below for interim policy changes and event cancellations.
Visitor screenings at USA Health hospitals
Because of the nation’s COVID-19 outbreak, beginning at 6 a.m. on March 17, all visitors and patients to USA Health facilities will be screened for symptoms and possible exposure. This is NOT testing for the virus. Please note the likely additional of time this will take for patients heading for appointments. Only one visitor per patient.
Appointments only for All of Us Research Program
The All of Us Research Program will no longer accept walk-in appointments at any enrollment site including the Mastin Professional Building, Strada Patient Care Center and Stanton Road Clinic. All meetings will be by appointment only. Those with scheduled appointments will be pre-screened the day before to ensure they are symptom-free. For information, call is 251-471-7708.
Event Cancellations
Seventh Annual Neuroscience Symposium
The symposium planned for April 3-5 at the Pensacola Beach Hilton has been cancelled.
Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Support Group
Monthly support groups at USA Health University Hospital have been cancelled.
Community Classes
All community classes at Children’s & Women’s Hospital have been canceled for March 2020.
Postponed Events
Freestanding Emergency Department Groundbreaking
The groundbreaking for USA Health's new Freestanding Emergency Department on 171 Hillcrest Road, scheduled for March 31 at 10 a.m., has been postponed. Details to follow when the event is rescheduled.
Eleventh annual Gulf Coast Trauma Symposium
The 11th annual Gulf Coast Trauma Symposium has been postponed until August 18-19, 2020. If you have already registered, your ticket will be honored at the symposium in August. Find more information at usahealthsystem.com/trauma-symposium.
Autism Matters Conference
The Autism Matters Conference planned for March 20 at the Orange Beach Event Center has been postponed. Follow the Autism Society of Alabama on Facebook for updates.
Policy Changes
As a reminder, USA Health – including University Hospital, Children’s & Women’s Hospital, and all USA Health outpatient clinics – altered its patient visitor policies. Each patient will be permitted no more than one (1) visitor at a time. This restriction applies to non-essential volunteers, non-essential vendors and drug representatives.
No visitors with symptoms of COVID-19 or influenza will be permitted in the facilities. No visitors will be allowed for patients who have a pending or positive COVID-19 test. Further, we strongly recommend that children not visit patients in our facilities at this time.
This new policy will be in place until the spread of COVID-19 no longer is perceived as a threat to patients, staff and our community.
These restrictions were put into place after careful consideration of the best proactive prevention strategies based on Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommendations as well as consultation with our infectious diseases specialists.
As an organization that emphasizes patient-centered care, we recognize that this policy deviates from our daily processes, but at the same time, we feel this is a critical precaution to help keep our community safe during the COVID-19 situation.