“What makes this situation unique is that those who may have been exposed are also our patients,” Davidson said. “This group of caregivers and physicians has been notified and sent home to quarantine based on CDC guidelines.”
Davidson said that Monument Health activated additional cleaning procedures in the positive caregiver’s work area.
Dr. Brad Archer, chief medical officer for Monument Health, said physicians and care teams are working on strategies to keep the 112 exposed individuals safe at home while maintaining their health care.
“The same group of clinicians is working to manage supplies, testing equipment and personal protective equipment in the middle of national shortages,” Archer said.
Davidson said Monument Health is doing “OK” with staffing.
“We’ve limited our elective surgical procedures, so we’re able to use many of our staff that were in those roles and have them step into other roles,” Davidson said. “We actually have a staffing pool so we can use some of our talented people in new roles if needed.”
Following suit with Sanford Health and Avera on the other side of the state, Monument Health is working to get its own testing equipment and capability in the Black Hills.
Davidson said they are currently testing patients with high-risk symptoms at the state health lab in Pierre and sending tests to the Mayo Clinic laboratories for patients with lower-risk symptoms.
