Monday, August 2, 2021
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Surging COVID-19 cases lead to changes at RSFH
Roper St. Francis Healthcare is seeing tremendous growth in the number of COVID-19 inpatients. Our number of inpatients with COVID-19 has jumped 194 percent to 56 total patients, compared to one week ago.
RESTRICTING SUPPORT PERSONS
Security will call units prior to sending support persons to the floor. One support person per patient will be allowed in women, infants and children units; EDs; and inpatient units. Procedural patients can have one support person, but they must wait outside the facility during the procedure. No visitors are allowed for COVID-19 patients, and exceptions will be made for end-of-life patients.
RESUMING PRE-ADMISSION TESTING, ED ADMISSIONS
Starting Thursday, all patients who are undergoing procedures will be tested for COVID-19 prior to being admitted, as well as all patients admitted to one of our hospitals through our Emergency Departments. The testing will apply to both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Patients scheduled for Thursday will be called starting today.
Patients can go to any of our RSF Express Cares for testing Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. or Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Patients should expect to have to enter the facility and wait to be tested. The Greer Transitions Clinic on Rivers Avenue has resumed drive-thru testing Monday through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
ANTIBODY INFUSIONS TO RESUME
We will begin offering infusions of REGN-COV to qualifying patients. The monoclonal antibody drug is a one-time treatment that delivers manmade neutralizing antibodies that bind to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The treatment only is available to outpatients and should be completed within the first 10 days of the disease. Infusions will be available initially at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital Emergency Department with the potential to expand to additional sites. This product has the best data among outpatient treatment options to support its use against the current COVID variants.
HOW TO SCHEDULE A VACCINATION APPOINTMENT
The two-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines is available at any of our five Roper St. Francis Express Care locations in James Island, Summerville, West Ashley and North Charleston by appointment for patients ages 12 and up. To schedule, call (843) 727-DOCS or go online.