Mosaic offers new options
Nate Blackford President of Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville
Anxiety and fear can run high at this time. People are looking for answers. As an example of this, one of our infectious disease doctors at the St. Joseph medical center, Scott Folk, MD, was featured in a video on Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville’s Facebook page.
It has already generated nearly 25,000 views. Dr. Folk’s quick description of the COVID-19 virus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) new guidelines for wearing facemasks is easy to understand. I encourage you to watch it. While you are there, be sure to like and follow us. We are working diligently to post timely, relevant and actionable information on our page regularly.
Of course, you’ve also been following the news and, no doubt, know that in Nodaway County we have not been immune to the pandemic. Have you wondered what you would do if you, a family member or friend has symptoms — a cough, fever, shortness of breath or other mild respiratory issues?
The first step is to call your primary care doctor or advance practice registered nurse (APRN), who will ask you questions over the phone and may even refer you to our Respiratory Clinic at Mosaic Specialty Clinic – East at 114 E. South Hills Drive.
This is not a drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic, but rather a place where you can receive an FDA-approved test with your doctor’s or APRN’s order. As approved testing kits continue to become more available in the market, we are adjusting our testing criteria and offering more tests to our patients.
In addition, we recently introduced the option of virtual visits, via video (Zoom). Please consult with your physician or APRN to determine if this option is right for you.
It’s also important to note that in the midst of this pandemic, we hit a key milestone as an organization. On April 1, Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville celebrated its one-year anniversary since becoming a member of the Mosaic health system. It has been a year full of amazing teamwork, achievements and changes. Although all things COVID-19 did not allow us to truly celebrate this milestone last week, we will do so in the future, and will be inviting you, our community, to celebrate with us.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused us all to adjust, both in big and small ways. Our team members have been preparing for weeks to meet the needs of our patients during this time. Be assured that when you need us, we will be here with the best and safest, most compassionate care available.
I want to close with a note of appreciation. This community is special (as you’ve likely heard me say before). You have rallied around us and showed us, and our caregivers, so much support. From donations of homemade masks, to notes of encouragement, to signs placed in our driveway telling our nurses “You’ve Got This,” to high school and middle school students and teachers using their gifts to create unique solutions for your patients and caregivers, we sincerely appreciate each and every one of you. When the dust finally settles (and it will), we will have a lot of “thank you” notes to write.
Editor’s Note
COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. To help our community combat the outbreak, we are providing this content for free. Please consider supporting our efforts in providing local coverage by subscribing to The Maryville Forum.
