Situation Update - San Francisco VA Health Care System
Veterans Health Administration sent this bulletin at 08/24/2020 07:13 PM EDT
San Francisco VA Medical Center Update |
San Francisco VA Medical
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EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS |
08/24/2020 07:06 PM EDT
Clearlake VA Clinic Update (as of 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24)The Clearlake VA Clinic will open during regular hours on Tuesday, Aug. 25. We are continuing to monitor the LNU Lightning Complex fires and assess their impacts in areas surrounding our outpatient clinics. Scheduled appointments are not impacted at this time. If you have concerns about a scheduled appointment on Aug. 25, please reach out to your health care team. The San Francisco VA Medical Center and our outpatient clinics in Downtown San Francisco, Eureka, San Bruno, Santa Rosa and Ukiah will also be open during regular hours on Tuesday, Aug. 25. VA shuttles are operating on their regular schedules.
Please be safe and follow official guidance from local authorities. Text your zip code to 888777 for text updates on evacuation orders and road closures in your area. 511.org also provides up-to-date information on all Bay Area road conditions.
COVID-19 Information and OperationsDue to the recent increase of COVID-19 cases in California, the San Francisco VA Health Care System has adjusted its operations to ensure we can continue to deliver the best care to Veterans in the safest way possible. While we always strive to provide a clean environment, we are taking additional measures, such as frequent cleaning of high-touch areas like doorknobs, handrails, countertops and vinyl seating, as well as removing magazines and other paper documents from waiting areas. Rigorous cleaning will continue in inpatient areas. As a reminder, washing your hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) is still the best way to clean your hands. However, if that is not possible, additional hand hygiene stations are located throughout our facilities. The following safety measures have been implemented at the San Francisco VA Medical Center until further notice: Entry to the San Francisco VA Medical Center and Clinics | Face Mask Policy Screenings | Visitor Policy | Medical Emergencies Shuttles To/From the SFVAMC | Veterans Crisis Line | CBOCs Stay Home and PhoneWe continue to limit the number of patients who come to our facilities for health care. We encourage Veterans to use our virtual care options (Telehealth, VA Video Connect) for specialty care, primary care and mental health services. Patients who need an in-person appointment can contact their care team. Veterans with pressing needs that require same-day care can now request a virtual urgent care visit with a SFVAMC Emergency Department provider through Express Care. Express Care visits are available only for certain cases including, but not limited to, cough, skin rash or urinary symptoms. Express Care is not intended to treat medical emergencies. Learn more. If you are having a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. AppointmentsPatients with scheduled in-person appointments should arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to avoid overcrowding of waiting areas. If Veterans arrive sooner, they may be asked to wait in their vehicles. We made changes to waiting areas, check-in desks and other common spaces to encourage physical distancing. Please stay at least six feet away from others at all times. Additional space between seating, plexiglass panels, limited elevator capacity, visual markings on floors are just a few of the changes you will notice at our facilities. Additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed around the medical center and clinics. SurgeriesElective surgeries and procedures have been postponed. All pre-procedural (aerosol-generating and high-risk, due to close/prolonged contact with oral/nasal airway), newly admitted, transferred and symptomatic patients will undergo COVID-19 testing. Entry to the San Francisco VA Medical Center and ClinicsOnly patients with in-person appointments or emergency needs will be allowed into the medical center or community-based outpatient clinics. All entering SFVAHCS facilities must follow the required precautions below:
Visitors who drive patients to appointments will not be permitted to accompany Veterans inside VA facilities unless medically required. Patients requesting to visit Member Services, Cashier/Billing, or the Travel Office at the SFVAMC will not be allowed in the facility and will be provided with a Member Services handout with instructions. Valet parking services have been suspended at the San Francisco VA Medical Center until further notice. Self-parking is available. See “Visitor Policy” below for information on entry for outpatient caregivers and inpatient visitors. Face Mask Policy
ScreeningsTo ensure everyone's safety, all requesting to enter the Medical Center or our community-based outpatient clinics will answer health screening questions before entry. Visitor PolicyTo protect our patients and staff, the following visitor policy is in effect at the Medical Center and at our community-based outpatient clinics.
San Francisco VA Medical Center Visitor Policy Exceptions We understand there are times when having a visitor or family member present is necessary. For this reason, below are exceptions to our visitor policy. Inpatient visitors are allowed for:
Medical EmergenciesIf you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, dial 911 immediately. The Emergency Department at the San Francisco VA Medical Center is open 24/7. If you are able, please call 800-733-0502 before visiting the Emergency Department. PrescriptionsPatients with non-urgent prescription needs should reorder medications online, by phone or by mail. Please allow five to seven business days for delivery. The outpatient pharmacy at the Medical Center remains open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for urgent medication needs.
Patients picking up medications only:
Shuttles to/from the SFVAMCShuttle riders will be screened prior to boarding. Patients must show proof – text, email, postcard - of an appointment. Physical shields, such as sneeze guards which separate the driver from passengers, have been installed in our shuttles. Seating has been staggered to ensure physical distancing. Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC)The following safety measures have been implemented at our six community-based outpatient clinics in Downtown San Francisco, San Bruno, Eureka, Santa Rosa, Ukiah and Clearlake until further notice:
Veterans Crisis LineIf you are a Veteran in crisis, there are specially trained responders ready to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by calling 800-273-8255 and Press 1. Sign-up for automatic email updates by filling in your email address in the “Emergency Email Updates” section, located at the top right corner of this page. For up-to-date information about the San Francisco VA, please check this page, the San Francisco VA Facebook page or San Francisco VA Twitter page. |