Press release from the Western North Carolina VA Health Care System:
We are sure you have questions regarding COVID-19 and what steps we have taken to protect our Veterans, visitors, and staff.
The Western North Carolina VA Health Care System is continuing to take measures to decrease the risk of COVID-19 transmission, promote patient safety, and protect our workforce. Visits to our facilities will be different from what Veterans are used to. For those coming in for a healthcare visit, we ask that you call first, or send a secure message through MyHealtheVet — even if you have an appointment.
Veterans may be able to be diagnosed and receive care through VA telehealth without having to leave home. If you do come in, plan to arrive earlier than usual to answer three COVID-19 screening questions developed by the CDC.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have installed additional hand sanitizing stations at central locations around our facilities. We are frequently cleaning door handles, elevator buttons, railings, and common areas.
We have also expanded visitor restrictions to include no visitors in our Community Living Center (CLC), except for those in hospice care. Visitors for hospice care, inpatient, and outpatient services are limited to two people, over the age of 12. Visitors who are reporting cold or flu-like symptoms, including fever, will not be able to enter our facilities.
This is a rapidly changing process, and we are working closely with local/state safety and health agencies, in order to have access to the most current information and guidance from the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) and will adjust operations while aligning with recommended public health guidelines. We want to assure you that we are taking the necessary steps to maintain our high-quality care. We appreciate your support during this current public health challenge.
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