Butler Health System is preparing for the spread of coronavirus to the Butler County area through new intake procedures as well as regular communication with health authorities.
In the medical opinion of BHS Infectious Disease specialist Dr. John Love, although the virus has not been confirmed locally, steps are already being taken for when that inevitably happens.
“We’ve actually developed a whole new policy around this,” Love said. “One of the first things patients are going to experience is a registration desk is prompted to ask about recent travel history. If the answer is yes, we’re going to do an additional screening.”
“We’ll then move them to an area a little farther away than other patients, and take our time to see if we’re worried about this patient being sick,” Love said.
Local BHS doctors and administrators are also in constant communication with state and national health agencies who are sharing information about where the virus has been confirmed and what correct procedures need to be followed.
According to Love, symptoms of this virus will manifest in a way similar to how a traditional flu virus would.
“This is going to look to me as a doctor, and feel to you as a patient, almost exactly like the flu,” Love said. “There’s probably going to be a pretty sudden onset with cough, fevers, body aches, and shortness of breath. Classic lower respiratory symptoms.”
Although masks for healthy people are not specifically recommended to avoid transmission, washing hands frequently and disinfecting surfaces regularly is recommended to reduce the possibility of infection.
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