PSA: Emergency rooms still open 24/7

Olmsted County Public Health, Olmsted Medical Center and Mayo Clinic are working cooperatively to remind the public that emergency services are still available, regardless of whether the case is Covid-19-related.

Included below is the public service announcement sent out Thursday:

We are concerned that the general public is not seeking emergent treatment for preventable illness due to concern for acquiring COVID-19 when they come to the hospital. Our local emergency departments are ready to care for emergencies of all kinds and have taken steps to lower the risk of transmission to keep patients and staff safe.

For patients who feel they have an emergency, COVID-related or not, please don’t hesitate to seek care at the emergency department. Our local emergency departments are staffed 24/7/365 for patients who have a medical emergency. Steps have been taken to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in emergency departments to keep patients and staff safe, that includes isolating patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. 

Mayo Clinic Patients: If a person is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms but otherwise feels okay, they should call their primary care provider to discuss their symptoms and testing options. They may also call the COVID-19 Help Line: 507-293-9525, weekdays 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., or use the COVID-19 self-assessment tool online here.

Olmsted Medical Center patients:  If a person is experiencing non-severe COVID-19 type symptoms, it is requested that they stay home and call the Nurse Triage line at 507-292-7266, weekdays 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The triage nurse will ask about symptoms and determine the best course of action for care.

Our latest reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic can be found here.