The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lorain County Health & Dentistry takes precautions
Lorain County Health & Dentistry remains open during the novel coronavirus pandemic. But Lorain County Health & Dentistry has laid off 34 medical and dental staff and closed locations in Lorain, Elyria and Oberlin. The cuts are part of the center’s plans to slow the spread of COVID-19, said Stephanie Wiersma, chief executive officer. “We view all of these measures as terribly drastic measures but necessary for the health and safety of our staff, but also for the health and safety of our organization in kind of an unknown time,” Wiersma said. “We’re navigating through waters we’ve never been in, like everyone else.” The goal: “Keep control in a situation that none of us really has much control over,” she said. Lorain County Health & Dentistry staff generally are following guidelines set by the federal Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention, said Dr. Jennifer Casey, chief medical officer. Lorain County Health & Dentistry is not a COVID-19 testing site. As of March 26, no one who had gone through the building has become a confirmed case. “We haven’t even had a high fever, to be perfectly honest with you, for any reason,” Wiersma said. The medical staff know about patient temperatures because they use a thermometer on anyone coming in the doors.
Where to go
Lorain County Health & Dentistry has about 105 workers, with full-time staff and a few contract providers. Last year, the center had 15,244 patients making 51,255 medical and dental visits, making 2019 its busiest year since opening in 2002. Among patients, 94 percent had income at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Even now, Lorain County Health & Dentistry is accepting new patients. The headquarters at 1205 Broadway remains open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. The other open locations are: • 3745 Grove Ave., South Lorain • 412 E. River St., Elyria For the other offices, the closures took place by March 20. “The outlying sites really do factor in,” Wiersma said. “So, we made some difficult decisions to kind of pull in our resources, if you will, to suspend operations at some of our smaller, outlying sites.” That happened particularly after the Ohio Department of Health closed non emergency dental services, Wiersma said. “We could pull in and not worry about those sites because they’re essentially empty, temporarily,” she said. The agency has shifted duties of staff and has fewer staff coming in.
Other precautions
Lorain County Health & Dentistry is limiting visitors and advising patients not to bring family members if possible, Wiersma said. For almost a month, receptionists have asked callers about possible COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, coughs or shortness of breath. Depending on callers’ symptoms, they could speak with a nurse, other healthcare provider or head to the hospital, Casey said. Lorain County Health & Dentistry and other health centers participate in the community health record, an electronic health information exchange that allows workers to track treatments of patients through other health care providers. The health record was created before the COVID-19 pandemic and the database generally helps Lorain County Health & Dentistry track patients to ensure they are getting allaround care, Casey said.
Additional help
Lorain County Health & Dentistry was among 51 Ohio community health centers receiving $3.2 million to bolster COVID-19 preparedness. The local center will receive $63,134. “These funds are a muchneeded boost during this national public health emergency,” Wiersma said. “I am very grateful. “While Lorain County Health & Dentistry is not a COVID-19 testing site, we are committed to staying open for as long as is safely possible to provide medical and emergency dental care to our patients and the community — and to prevent undue demand on our local emergency rooms.”