COVID-19

You won’t be near anyone with COVID-19.

The fear of contracting COVID-19 shouldn’t cross your mind when you need emergency care. That’s why we’ve created safe zones in our ER - keeping you separate from anyone we’re treating for COVID-19.

We’re suiting up and scrubbing down even more.
We’ve upped our cleaning and disinfecting protocols - especially for high-touch areas. We also make sure we’re adequately stocked with masks, shields, gloves and towns to help keep you and our staff healthy.

Checking, then double-checking.
For an added layer of protection, we have hospital personnel screening patients for COVID-10 exposure and symptoms before they enter our facility.

Visitor Guidelines

Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors, and employees.

As of Wednesday, August 4, limited visitors are permitted except under these special circumstances: 

All Potential Visitors must:

1. Enter through the designated areas of the hospital.
2. Screen (-) for COVID symptoms or new risk factors by the Screener.
3. Temperature screening for staff, medical staff, and visitors is per questionnaire.  Physical temperature checking is not performed unless suspicious for fever.
4. Be 18 years of age or older.
5. Wear a facemask.
6. Hand sanitize upon entering and leaving the facility and any patient room.
7. Maintain social distancing while in the facility.
8. Remain in the patient’s room during the visit.

Visitors must adhere to the following guidelines:

• No more than 1 inpatient visitor at a time - People waiting to visit an inpatient should wait in their cars or outside, until the time of their visit.
• NO outpatient visitors – outpatient diagnostics or surgery.
• NO Emergency Department visitor – 1 care taker may accompany patient.
• No time limit to visit.

No visitation for COVID patients

In compassionate care situations, including but not limited to end-of-life situation, decisions about visitation should be made collaboratively, on a case-by-case basis.  Must be approved by the CNO, or designee.

Please note: Patients with physical or intellectual disabilities: Support persons will be allowed for patients with physical of intellectual disabilities, regardless of the patient’s COVID status. There are no restrictions on visiting hours. Support persons are not considered visitors, however they must be screened.

Continue to support alternative electronic methods for communication between patients and all other visitors, such as Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp or Google Duo.

These measures have been put in place for your protection, as well as the protection of patients and hospital staff. We ask for your understanding and appreciate your cooperation in our commitment to keeping our community safe.

Steward Health Care is committed to the safety, health, and well-being of our patients, staff, and the communities we serve. We will provide additional updates as they become available. 

*Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in loss of visitor privileges

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The teams are working to ensure that we are ready to treat patients in our community who may need care.  However, in order to keep our emergency room as free from COVID-19 as possible, we are asking patients to call their primary care provider if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed.  Steward Medical Group continues to offer its patients tele-health virtual visits for patients who may have flu-like symptoms and want to speak with a physician; or they may be for patients experiencing other routine ailments but do not wish to go to the doctor’s office.

We ask our community to continue to follow instructions on social distancing and self-quarantine.  This is the best way we can slow the spread of disease and increase the chances that we will be able to handle the volume of more severe cases that require hospital care.  Additionally, we ask the community to continue to support our front-line providers, including doctors, nurses, other hospital workers, and first responders who are stepping forward in this time of uncertainty.

For more information about COVID-19 visit The Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov, by contacting the Florida Department of Health hotline:  1-866-779-6121 or visiting their website at https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/ or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

How to get your COVID-19 test results if you were tested in the ER.

If you do not receive your results within 48 hours you can:

• Log into your patient portal 
• Contact your Primary Care Physician or if you have a Steward Medical Group provider, please log into your Steward Medical Group portal 
• Call the Patient Advocate at 321-752-1431, Monday-Friday during normal business hours. If results are needed on the weekend, please call the Emergency Department. 

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Treatment in Brevard County

What: A state-run monoclonal antibody therapy treatment site for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 or considered high risk if infected has opened at Kiwanis Island Park on Merritt Island. The location has the capacity to serve more than 300 patients per day and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Why: The antibodies help the immune system recognize and respond effectively to the virus. According to treatment guidelines, they should be administered as soon as possible after diagnosis. By providing access to these treatments at these new sites, Governor DeSantis is alleviating demand on hospital resources and further making sure that Floridians have access to all potential treatments that can help them recover from COVID-19.

Where: Kiwanis Island Park is located at 951 Kiwanis Island Park Road, Merritt Island, 32952. To make an appointment, visit patientportalfl.com. Walk-ins are also being accepted at this time.

When: 9am to 5pm daily

Details: Monoclonal antibody treatments can be prescribed by health care providers to individuals 12 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and are at high risk for severe illness and hospitalization. However, to support there is currently a standing order in Florida, signed by the State Surgeon General, that allows patients to receive this treatment without a prescription. Such referrals are not required at any of the State of Florida monoclonal antibody treatment sites and treatments are available at no cost to patients.