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. Stay tuned to our informational page for the latest visitor information and ongoing updates.

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

• 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.

CALL CENTER & TESTING

Opelousas General Health System is now providing a call center for answering COVID-19 questions. Callers can also be screened through this call center for possible testing via our drive-thru testing area. Testing will be conducted by appointment only through our call center to abide by our social distancing policy.

Please call to determine if you meet criteria for testing. Only those who have been screened and scheduled are allowed to come to the screening station. We ask that you please have your Government Issued Identification & Insurance Information with you upon arrival. Call 1-337-678-4705.

UPDATED VISITOR INFORMATION

Due to the significant increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the Acadiana region, Opelousas General Health System will be returning to a No Visitor Policy. For the continued safety of our staff, patients, and providers, visitors will not be allowed into our facilities. We encourage families to use alternate means of communication such as FaceTime, Skype, or other telecommunications services.

Beginning July 3, 2020 at 6:00pm CST, NO VISITORS will be allowed - except for the following circumstances:

• Laboring Moms: One (1) Spouse, Partner, or Parent
  • Visitor will be allowed to stay overnight
• Pediatrics (Includes Emergency Department): Two Parents or Guardians
  • Both Parents or Guardians will be allowed to stay overnight
• End-of-Life Patients: Two Adults Only (not including a Spiritual/Religious Leader)
• Same Day Surgery: One Adult Visitor
• Inpatient Surgery: One Adult Visitor for duration of surgery only
• Patients with severe cognitive, physical, or mobility impairments will be allowed ONE (1) Visitor.
  • This visitor will be allowed to stay overnight.

All essential visitors must be screened for COVID-19, be asymptomatic, and wear a mask at all times (children under age 2 are exempt from wearing 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.

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:

• Explaining Death to Children when Someone Dies due to COVID-19
• Explaining Germs COVID to Children
• Helping Children Say Goodbye From Afar
• Supporting Children and Teens When Someone is Dying

CDC Resources:

• COVID-19 Symptoms
• Share the Facts
• Stop the spread of germs
• What you need to know

Community Resources:

• Community Resources
• COVID-19 Education

As our community transitions to Phase 1 of Reopening, it is important to follow any and all guidelines established, including wearing masks in public settings. In an effort to ensure masks continue to be available to healthcare workers, we must make all efforts to conserve our supply. Please follow the guidelines below for mask use and re-use.

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:

1. Perform hand hygiene
2. 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.
3. After removing facemask, visually inspect for contamination, distortion in shape/form. If soiled, torn, or saturated the mask should be discarded.
4. If the facemask is NOT visibly soiled, torn, or saturated, carefully store on a paper towel exterior side of mask down.
5. Perform hand hygiene.

To Re-Don Mask

1. Perform hand hygiene
2. 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
3. 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.