As Galen Medical Group prepares to reopen to provide non-emergent, non-COVID-19 healthcare, we will be implementing policies and procedures recommended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in order to maintain the safety and health of our patients and staff.

General Considerations

1. In coordination with state and local public health officials, evaluate the incidence and trends for COVID-19 in the area before re-starting in-person care. Monitor hospital trends.
2. Providers will evaluate the necessity of the care based on clinical needs. High priority needs will take precedence.
3. Sufficient resources will be available to all our sites across phases of care, including PPE, healthy workforce, facilities, supplies, testing capacity, and post-acute care, without jeopardizing surge capacity of local facilities.
4. Galen Medical Group will continue to offer telehealth services in conjunction with in-person visits.
5. Galen Medical Group will continue to conduct pre-visit health assessments by telephone to screen for symptoms related to flu-like illness or COVID-19.
6. Staff that is able to work remotely will continue to do so until further notice.

PPE

1. Galen Medical Group employees will be required to wear a face mask at all times while inside of a Galen facility or office.
2. Patients and their caregivers will be required to wear a mask while on premises. If they do not have a mask, one will be provided to them.
3. Every effort will be made to conserve personal protective equipment.

Workforce Availability

1. Staff will be routinely screened for symptoms of COVID -19 and if symptomatic, will be tested and quarantined, according to current Galen policy.
2. Staff who will be working in the “COVID-19 Care zones” will be limited to only these areas and should not rotate into “Non-COVID-19 Care zones”.
3. Staffing levels will remain adequate to cover a potential surge in COVID-19 cases.

Facility Consideration

1. Signage will be placed at all sites notifying patients to not enter building if they are presenting any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19
2. Galen will be providing onsite forehead temperature measurement for all staff and patients using a non-contact infrared thermometer.
3. Physical barriers (e.g. plexiglass partitions) will be considered if sufficient physical distancing cannot be accomplished.
4. Physical distancing rules will be adhered to by patients and staff, except during intervals of close contact required by providers to prepare the patient for a procedure or conduct a physical exam.
5. Patients will be asked to come alone or with only one essential family member/caregiver who will remain off premises or in a vehicle unless deemed essential to conducting the visit.
6. Lobby/waiting room chairs will be redistributed for social distancing.
7. Patients will be asked to wait off premises or in a vehicle until they are called for their visit, when feasible

Sanitation

1. Antibacterial soap and at least 60% alcohol-containing hand sanitizer will be provided at each site for all employees to follow proper hand hygiene.
2. All sites will have an established plan for thorough cleaning and disinfection prior to using spaces or facilities for patients with non-COVID-19 care needs.
3. EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant solutions and wipes will be used in exam and procedure rooms to clean all high-touch and horizontal surfaces between patient encounters.

Screening

• All patients will be screened for potential symptoms of COVID-19 prior to entering a Non-Covid Care facility, and staff must be routinely screened for potential symptoms A.

Galen Medical Group will continually evaluate whether our region remains a low risk of incidence and will be prepared to cease non-essential procedures and visits if there is a surge.