Hackensack Meridian JFK Medical Center Implements Important New Safety Measures to Protect Patients and Team Members During COVID-19 Pandemic

Actions Include Enhanced and More Frequent Cleaning and Sanitizing of Facilities, New Patient Flows /Social Distancing, and Universal Patient Testing for Coronavirus

Edison, NJ – July 23, 2020 – Hackensack Meridian JFK Medical Center has implemented comprehensive new safety protocols to protect patients, staff and the community in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, while reminding the public to take precautions to prevent potential community exposure to the novel coronavirus and to seek medical care in a timely manner for emergency, nonemergency and chronic health conditions.

JFK Medical Center’s actions are focused on enhanced and more frequent cleaning and sanitizing of all its facilities, new patient traffic flow patterns and social distancing measures, and testing of all patients for the coronavirus. Patients with coronavirus/COVID-19 who are admitted to JFK Medical Center are cared for in isolated treatment areas and inpatient units, away from patients admitted for non-COVID-related conditions.

“Protecting patient safety is our most important goal, and we have implemented many new safety measures to contribute to the health and well-being of the people and communities that we serve,” said Amie Thornton, chief hospital executive, JFK Medical Center. “We are as ready as ever to care for patients, thanks to the safety planning and 24-hour vigilant attention of our environmental, infection-control and clinical teams, and all of our health-care heroes.”

JFK Medical Center has implemented many new protocols as a result of COVID-19, with patient safety at the forefront.  They include:

• Changing patient traffic flows to include specially designated entrances and separate waiting and treatment areas for non-COVID-19 patients.
• Screening and temperature checks for all patients, visitors, team members and physicians upon entrance to the hospital.
• Enhanced and more frequent rigorous deep cleaning and sanitization of the facilities by experts, including use of ultra-violet light cleaning and fogging.
• COVID-19 testing of all patients who stay at the hospital.
• Enforcement of social distancing, meaning maintaining at least six feet of space between individuals, whenever possible.
• Providing masks to patients, visitors, team members and physicians, and requiring them to wear the masks when at JFK Medical Center.
• Providing face shields to team members and physicians
• Limited visitation hours at JFK Medical Center and nursing and rehabilitation facilities, consistent with directives from the State of New Jersey.
• Availability of telehealth services.

Please visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/GetCareNow to learn more.

While emergency room visits have declined since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the severity of symptoms of patients who visit ERs has increased because patients are waiting too long to seek treatment. Delays in emergency care can result in irreversible damage, side effects and poor health outcomes.

“Patients should seek immediate treatment for serious injuries or urgent symptoms, especially those of cardiovascular disease, and they should not delay treatment of chronic medical conditions,” said William Oser, M.D., chief medical officer, JFK Medical Center.

How to Prevent Getting COVID-19

• Clean your hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay at home as much as possible.
• Put distance between yourself and other people (at least 6 feet).
• Cover your mouth and nose with a mask /cloth face cover when around others.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily.

About Hackensack Meridian JFK Medical Center

Serving residents of central New Jersey for more than 50 years, JFK Medical Center offers a complete array of advanced services in its 498-bed facility located in Edison, N.J. With more than 1,000 affiliated physicians, this academic medical center offers a complete spectrum of advanced services including general and specialized surgery, cardiac care, maternity and pediatrics, oncology, imaging, breast center, sleep center, wound care, robotic surgery, emergency medicine, weight loss surgery, radiology, long-term care and assisted living. It is home to the world-renowned Neuroscience Institute that diagnoses and treats brain, spine and nervous system disorders. To learn more, visit JFKMC.org.

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