HMH announces change to COVID testing policy

Last month during the September meeting of the Howard Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, CEO Debra Wright reported as of September 19, HMH had performed 378 Covid-19 test. She said 116 people tested positive for a positivity rate of 31 percent.

Wright said as of September 19, Howard County was reporting 38 active cases, which she felt was understated, however, the county’s current activity level is low.

Howard Memorial Hospital announced Monday, that due to the changes being made by CMS to COVID testing, the hospital will no longer be providing testing for patients that have no symptoms. In order to be tested, you will be required to have a physician’s order. Screening will no longer be done before entering the facility. However, patients will continue to be asked to practice good hand hygiene practices and wear a mask when you have symptoms.

Wright also mentioned two apps that would help improve communication with patients.

Thrive Patient Connect is an app that will allow the hospital to send reminders via text or email. The app would send three reminders to patients who have appointments for outpatient services. She said reminders are already being used for clinic patients through eClinical Works, but the hospital’s computer system does not have the ability to use eClinical Works.

Wright said Communication Center would provide the hospital with the ability to send HIPAA compliant messages via fax, email and secured text. She said it would eliminate the need to fax medical record information.