COVID-19 Resources

Opelousas General Health System continues to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak closely to ensure our community's preparedness. Please know we are committed to caring for our patients and ensuring we respond to the healthcare needs of our community.

Click Here for information on the COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Chills
Muscle Pain
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat

WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE SICK

If you develop fever, cough and/or shortness of breath, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, Call your primary care doctor. If you don’t have one, please call Opelousas General Health System at (337) 948-3011.

UPDATED VISITOR INFORMATION

Updated 3/18/2022

Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the Acadiana region, Opelousas General Health System will be adjusting the Visitor Policy.

Beginning 3/18/2022 at 8:00am CST, visitors will be allowed in the following areas:

ED patients – 1 asymptomatic visitor at one time.
Inpatient – 2 asymptomatic visitors at one time.
Labor/Delivery/Mother/Baby – 1 asymptomatic visitor for duration of the stay and 1 visitor at a time.
Surgery Inpatient – 2 asymptomatic visitors at one time.
Surgery Same Day - 2 asymptomatic visitors at one time.
Pre-Admit – 1 asymptomatic visitor at one time.
Clinic/Outpatients – essential visitors only.
ICU – 2 asymptomatic visitors during ICU visiting hours at one time.
Pediatric patients – 2 parents or guardians.
COVID patients – must be approved and coordinated through Command Center.
End of life patients – 2 visitors at a time (not including a Spiritual/Religious Leader). Must be coordinated through the command center.
Rehab - 2 asymptomatic visitors at one time.
All over night patients are allowed one essential visitor to stay overnight.
- Visitation Hours:
  - General: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  - ICU: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM and 8:00 – 9:00 PM
  - Rehab South Campus: Mon – Sat: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Sun 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Any visitor exiting the building outside of visitation hours will not be allowed to reenter until visitation hours are open.
No visitors can enter the hospital outside of visiting hours unless they are with a patient admitted through ED.
All visitors must be screened for COVID-19, be asymptomatic, and always wear a mask. Visitors refusing to wear a mask or wear the mask appropriately (per CDC guidelines) while within any building on an OGHS campus will be required to leave the building.
Visitors must check in with our guest relations team upon entering the building.
Visitors will be subject to screening upon reentering the building.
Surgery visitors will be allowed to wait in the waiting rooms. Any visitors that begin exhibiting symptoms of respiratory infection will be asked to leave the campus.
Labor and Delivery is allowed one visitor for duration of the stay and one additional visitor at a time. A spouse or significant other is the visitor allowed for the duration of the stay.
Essential visitors are persons required to be with the patient to complete the visit. A parent of a minor or a caregiver are examples of essential guests.
Clergy will be allowed to visit with patients during this time.

COVID testing prior to procedures/outpatient testing:

Beginning Monday, April 5, 2021, patients will no longer required to be swabbed for COVID prior to surgery, sleep studies, PFT testing, speech testing or cardiac cath lab procedures.

Patients will continue to be screened by being asked the COVID questionnaire and
following the appropriate protocol should patient have symptoms or have been exposed to
someone with COVID.

COVID-19 CONVALESCENT PLASMA DONATIONS

Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients can be used to help treat critically ill patients. If you have had a documented diagnosis of COVID-19 by a molecular PCR test and are now recovered and asymptomatic, please call 337 943-7180 to find out if you qualify as a donor. To learn more, visit http://www.lifeshare.org/faqs

SUPPORT OGHS

The American Hospital Association has launched a "Protect the Heroes" campaign which allows the general public to make direct impact donations to America's hospitals/health systems. Every dollar raised from Protect the Heroes goes directly to the donor’s choice of local hospital to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and other support for their local healthcare workers to fight COVID-19.

Visit www.protecttheheroes.org to be connected to a local hospital and contribute to hospital emergency relief funds. Each hospital will determine where funds should be applied.

RESOURCES

Children's Resources:

CDC Resources:

Community Resources:

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY

The Wound Treatment Center at Opelousas General Health System Is Saving Lives using Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment!

The Wound Treatment Center at Opelousas General Health System is the only facility in the state of Louisiana, and one of only a handful in the country that uses Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 to prevent mechanical ventilation.

Dr. Kerry Thibodeaux, FACS, CWSP, FAPWCA, initiated HBOT early on as a successful means of treatment. “It differs from ventilator treatment because it doubles the atmospheric pressure, thus doubling the amount of oxygen that enters the lungs and the blood stream. Oxygen binds to red blood cells, and is delivered throughout the body, but when it is received in the body under pressure, it also dissolves in the plasma, which greatly increases the oxygen level in the blood stream. This allows cells to work normally, crucially boosting the anti-inflammatory response which helps the patients lungs recover greatly benefiting the healing process,” he explained.

The video link below features Dr. Thibodeaux in a television interview with KALB in Alexandria and further explains the treatment procedure of HBOT.

Dr. Thibodeaux continues to educate medical executives throughout the country and the world about HBOT for COVID-19 patients. Recently, he served as faculty in a webinar, entitled “Evidence Review for HBO2 Treatment of Covid-19” along with Marcus Speyrer, RN, CWS, DAPWCA, Chief Operating Officer of The Wound Treatment Center for the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society, which is the United States governing body for Hyperbarics. Dr. Thibodeaux shared data from previously treated patients, while Speyrer shared best practices for infection control and transporting patients. Faculty from Australia, Sweden, Italy and Australia were also in attendance.

This video highlights the work that Dr. Kerry Thibodeaux is doing regarding treatment for COVID-19 patients. https://youtu.be/jG2LBW4mpNk

Infection Prevention Guidance on Mask Use and Re-Use

To Remove Facemask with intent to reuse:

Perform hand hygiene
Remove mask
1. Remove an ear loop style mask by holding the ear loops. The front is contaminated, so remove slowly and carefully.
2. Remove a tie style mask by untying lower ties FIRST. Untie upper ties last. The front is contaminated, so remove slowly and carefully. Ensure ties do not fall into clean interior side of mask.
After removing facemask, visually inspect for contamination, distortion in shape/form. If soiled, torn, or saturated the mask should be discarded.
If the facemask is NOT visibly soiled, torn, or saturated, carefully store on a paper towel exterior side of mask down.
Perform hand hygiene.

To Re-Don Mask

Perform hand hygiene
Grasp mask
1. Pinch an ear loop style mask at the ear loops or
2. Grasp a tie style mask by upper ties on surgical mask
Place over face
1. For ear loop style mask: Secure ear loops behind the ears. Secure mask.
2. For tie style mask: Secure upper ties first, behind head.
3. End by securing lower ties behind head.
4. Perform hand hygiene.

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