Orchard Hospital is taking pro-active measures to ensure the health and well-being of our community as we face this global crisis together.
Orchard Hospital’s leadership and staff are working around the clock to mitigate an outbreak, if it should occur, of COVID-19 in and around the communities it serves.
With the situation changing daily Steve Stark, CEO commented “We are in constant communication with county public health agencies, California Hospital Association, and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and will update staff and the community with information as it becomes available.”
Orchard Hospital is taking the following steps to mitigate the situation:
- On Friday, March 13th, the hospital activated the hospital incident command system (HICS) and the team is monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak daily.
- It has deployed the mobile tent on the west entrance of the hospital should there be a need to have an overflow site for testing or quarantining any potential COVID-19 cases.
- For the foreseeable future access to the main hospital and Hovlid Community Care Center will be restricted to visitors unless their loved one is in final comfort care/end of life.
- Most non-essential medical appointments across all our programs are being canceled until further notice. We will reach out to reschedule once the authorities have deemed it safe to do so.
- The Medical Specialty Clinic is screening all patients prior to entering the building and routing symptomatic patients to the appropriate level of care.
- Every effort is being made to increase the supply of personal protective equipment for both patients and staff. Supplies are limited and this is being monitored very closely.
CEO Steve Stark emphasizes that, “With good hand hygiene, wiping down of surfaces, covering your face when coughing or sneezing, and common-sense use of supplies, you are doing your part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.”
Stark also stressed the importance of getting information from reliable sources so as to avoid accidentally spreading rumors.
Recommended websites include:
California Department of Public Health
Center for Disease Prevention and Control
Orchard Hospital will continue to monitor the situation and communicate with staff, patients, families and its communities as information becomes available.
Per the recommendation of the CDC, anyone who believes they have been exposed to COVID 19 and develops a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, should contact their healthcare provider for medical advice. Please call ahead.
About Orchard Hospital
For over seventy years and with the highest standards of excellence and integrity, Orchard Hospital has been serving the Biggs, Gridley and Richvale areas of Butte County, and Live Oak in Sutter County, to provide closer-to-home health care for the region. The hospital currently has 24 General Acute Care beds. It operates two Medical Specialty Centers; one in Gridley and one in Oroville, as well as the 82-bed Hovlid Community Care Center (Skilled Nursing Facility). Orchard Hospital’s Mission is Growing Healthy Communities in an environment of compassion, humanity and care for the communities that are served.
