Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness Information
For Patients and Visitors:
At Harris Regional Hospital, our top priority is safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our patients, providers, employees and community. We continue to closely monitor the prevalence of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community and follow state and federal guidance as we adapt our operations to safely care for and support our patients.
No visitors/companions under any circumstance will be permitted to stay if they have existing signs/symptoms of respiratory illness, including: fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
Mask Guidelines:
Harris Regional Hospital is taking every precaution to keep our patients and staff safe, and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our facilities. For this reason, we are following the CDC recommendation that anyone who enters our facility must wear a face mask at all times.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own mask from home to help conserve hospital supplies for patients and staff.
Why wear a mask?
Recent studies show that universal masking, in addition to practicing social distancing and proper hand hygiene, can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, especially in individuals who may not know they are ill. And until there is a vaccine, these measures are our best line of defense in protecting not only you, but also our healthcare workers and community members.
Please be smart and do your part. Wear a mask! We all have a responsibility to protect one another against the spread of COVID-19 and make our communities healthier.
For more information from the CDC on face coverings and how to make your own, click here.
To learn more about the many ways we are working to ensure your safety while you are in our care, click here.
Telehealth Now Available:
Patients can request a telehealth visit by calling their provider’s office, just as they would for an in-person visit. The provider will determine if a telehealth visit is appropriate based on the patient’s health condition. If the virtual visit is deemed clinically appropriate, the patient will be given an appointment time and instructions for the best way to connect given the available platforms.
A few restrictions on telephonic visits may apply, including that they cannot be utilized to treat patients for a condition that the patient has been seen for in the previous seven days, and they cannot be used to treat a condition that the patient is already coming in for within the next 24 hours.
Patients who are concerned they may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to consider telemedicine appointments to help further reduce the spread of respiratory illness. Leveraging telemedicine also conserves personal protective equipment (PPE) and other clinical resources that are needed when treating a patient with suspected COVID-19 in the clinic or hospital setting.
Quick Links
Below are a number of resources to help educate you and your family on COVID-19.
For more information on the virus, please contact the Jackson County Department of Public Health.
- COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ's
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
- Jackson County Department of Public Health
- Jackson County Emergency Management
- North Carolina Healthcare Association
- Healthcare Provider Guidelines