BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — About 24 hours before it became a nationwide requirement, Woodside Lutheran Home in Ashwaubenon was locked down from visitors.
“We made the call yesterday just with how everything was changing,” said Meghan Mehlberg-Fuss, the nursing home’s administrator. “Better be safe than sorry at this point.”
Mehlberg-Fuss says the restrictions were mostly well received when family members of the 250 residents were notified.
“We actually have our IT director out right now at Best Buy buying 10 iPads,” said Mehlberg-Fuss. “We have a couple already in house to really kind of focus on some of those Skype calls, Facetime calls with loved ones.”
Also, ahead of President Trump’s declaration, hospitals in the Green Bay area say they already had their emergency preparedness plans activated for nearly three weeks.
“Basically it takes us from normal everyday operations to putting aside some of our other work and focusing directly on the pandemic,” said Dave Kobielak, Bellin Health Emergency Management Specialist.
To make sure things run smoothly, visitor restrictions are also now in place.
The hospitals are also asking people with COVID-19 symptoms to call their healthcare provider first, before simply showing up. They can provide the proper guidance.
“What we’re finding is if people just show up to the emergency departments that the emergency departments are being completely overwhelmed,” said Kobielak. “We don’t want to put them in a situation where they can’t provide everyday care for others that are coming in as well.”
There are exceptions to the visitor restrictions in extreme situations at both hospitals and nursing homes.
At Bellin and HSHS facilities, most patients will be allowed one visitor… typically whoever is most important to the patient’s care.
