The best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated and to avoid being exposed to this virus. The CDC recommends the following steps:

• Get a COVID-19 Vaccine when it is available to you.
• Wash your hands often with soup and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid close contact

Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.

Outside you home: Put 6 feet distance between yourself and people who don't live in your household.

Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus.

Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms' length) from other people.

Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others

You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.

The mask is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.

Everyone should wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don't live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. (Masks should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.)

Do not use a mask meant for a healthcare worker. Currently, surgical masks and N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders.

Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The mask is not a substitute for social distancing.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

• Monitor your health daily. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported - ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms.

If you are:

• Experiencing symptoms

• Have been in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Through the recommendation of the CDC and Four Corners Public Health Department, we ask that you call ahead before you go to a doctor's office or emergency room and tell them of your recent travel, contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and your symptoms.

Clinic 402-643-4800

Hospital 402-643-2971

Four Corners Public Health Department 1-877-337-3573

Memorial ezVisit, powered by Bryan Telemedicine, offers online screening for COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

All patients and visitors will be pre-screened for the risk of COVID-19 upon arrival and given a clean mask to wear in the facility. Screening includes questions related to symptoms and exposure to others who are sick. Screening may include taking their temperature and instruction on infection prevention procedures. This is not a medical test to diagnose COVID-19. 

One healthy, adult support person can accompany patients to appointments at Memorial Health Care Systems.

Exceptions include:

• Pediatric/Minor patient (18 years or younger) - two parents/guardians, must stay in the patient room
• Patient receiving end-of-life care - number to be determined by patient's nurse and administrative manager
• Special Circumstances - as identified by administrative manager
• Visitors are not allowed for patients with a pending COVID-19 test or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. We understand this can be difficult for family members. This is necessary to limit exposure to families and community spread of the virus.

Hospital Visitors:

• Effective Monday, March 8, 2021, Memorial Health Care Systems is implementing the following visitor/support person guidelines.

One healthy, adult support person and one healthy clergy member are permitted each day for:

• Inpatients
• swing bed
• assisted living residents

Visiting hours for inpatients, swing-bed, and assisted living residents are seven days a week: 8:00a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Support persons and patients will be screened upon each arrival for signs of illness by taking their temperature and are required to follow infection prevention procedures as instructed. If the support person fails the health screening, he/she will not be permitted.

Please Do Not visit patients in the hospital if you are sick or under quarantine for COVID-19.

Other ways you can connect with a patient or assisted living resident at Memorial Health Care Systems:

• Phone a patient's room by dialing: 402-643-2971 and ask to be connected to the patient room #
• Use your personal devices (smartphones, iPads, tablets, laptops) to stay connected
• Families without necessary devices can consult with the patient's nurse on the availability of devices that Memorial Health Care Systems may be able to loan temporarily

Clinic Patients:

• All patients and visitors or adult support persons will be given a mask upon arrival and are required to wear a mask.
• Patients presenting with respiratory issues will be required to wear a mask.

Call before going to a doctor's office or emergency room and tell them about your recent travel, exposure to COVID-19 and your symptoms.

Clinic 402-643-4800

Hospital 402-643-2971

Take an online screening for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) at Memorial ezVisit.

We understand that our patients are concerned about the growing cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States, particularly as confirmed cases now exist in Nebraska. As a health care system, we have existing infection control protocols that are critical processes for all patient care. Due to the nature of our normal business, we are well accustomed to the regular use of procedures and protocols to minimize the spread of infectious disease.  In an effort to reinforce existing infection control protocol and ensure we establish any changes that may be recommended with new information regarding COVID-19, an interdisciplinary team within Memorial Health Care Systems has been established.  

This interdisciplinary team is gathering information, receiving guidance and updates from the Department of Health and Human Services, Regional and District Health Departments, Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. The team attends teleconferences weekly that are sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services and Nebraska Hospital Association. We continue to receive alerts from DHHS via email and fax as new information develops between these meetings. Any information that is new in regards to our standard precautionary measures or new to screening of patients will be directed out of this group as soon as we learn about it. We are here to care for you and your family. Our priority always remains keeping our patients, guests and employees safe.

MHCS Resources

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Screening through Memorial ezVisit
• MHCS offers "rapid" COVID-19 testing on symptomatic patients
• MHCS test site 1 hours per week for the Test Nebraska initiative
• Drive-through COVID-19 testing each Friday from 9 - 10 a.m.
• Prescription curb side pickup call Seward Family Pharmacy 402-646-4607
• Family Medical Centers of Seward 402-643-4800 / Milford 402-761-3307 / Utica 402-534-2081
• Memorial Hospital and Emergency Services 402-643-2971

MHCS Updates

• All patients and visitors are required to have a pre-screening prior to entering our facilities.

We are here for you with safe care processes in place across MHCS:

• Proper protective gear for staff
• Patients provided masks
• Visitor restrictions
• Prescreening for symptoms
• Temperature checks at entrances
• Request disinfecting and cleaning
• Frequent hand sanitizing (including patients)
• Social distancing measures
• Separate care areas and care times for COVID-19 testing and non-COVID-19 patients
• COVID-19 triage at 402-643-4800, for triaging possible COVID-19 patients
• ezVisits and telehealth visits minimize people in given area

Getting back to more normal operations, MHCS has undertaken the careful expansion of clinic and hospital services. The areas that have now resumed care include:

• Elective surgeries
• Diabetic Education
• Diabetes Support Group
• Diabetes Prevention Program
• Cardiac Rehab (small groups)
• Cardiac Wellness Program
• Outpatient Specialists Clinics
• Pulmonary Function Testing
• In-home and in-lab sleep studies
• Pulmonary Rehab

• COVID-19 testing when collected at the Family Medical Centers of Milford, Seward and Utica may either be billed by MHCS or it may be billed directly to the patient by our reference labs, Regional Pathology or Nebraska Public Health Lab. The test price billed by MHCS is $105. For information on prices that may be charged by our reference labs visit www.reglab.org or www.nphl.org.

• COVID-19 testing at Memorial Hospital is $105.  View a complete listing of Memorial Hospital Standard Charges.

• Billing Codes and Descriptions

     - CPT Code 87635: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid(DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique

     - HCPC Code U0003: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique, using high throughput technologies 

Seward County area schools, Four Corners Public Health and MHCS have collaborated together to address questions for school employees and students regarding COVID-19.  Access information by reviewing the public health recommendations for the screening, exclusion, and re-admittance fo ill students and staff for COVID-19 in schools.

A message from Memorial Health Care Systems in partnership with Seward County Chamber & Development Partnership

 We recognize that this is a challenging time. As individuals, we are bombarded with messages surrounding COVID-19 and making decisions that will protect ourselves and our families. As a professional health care organization, we are challenged to educate our patients, be empathetic to our colleagues, and serve as the source of truth for our community. Our communities must come together to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Rates of COVID-19 infection are continuing to rise at an alarming pace in Seward County and across Nebraska.

 To help with slowing the spread we are raising awareness efforts and have created an awareness effort for Seward County called: Stay Open, Stay Healthy.

 This campaign was created to enable you to easily share credible information on your website and social pages and encourage all community members to serve as a positive example within our community. Mayor Eickmeier, Memorial Health Care Systems, and six area schools issued a news release on October 28, announcing the campaign and showcasing a unified front. Please join this countywide effort to encourage voluntary participation with Avoiding the Three Cs: 1) crowded places, 2) close contacts, and 3) confined spaces.  

 How you can help

Memorial Health Care Systems and Seward County Chamber & Development Partnership will share content on our social media channels Nov. 9 to Dec. 19. To maximize the impact of our messaging, we ask you to:

• Engage with the posts by liking, sharing, and commenting as much as possible.

• You can also use these posts on your own website or social media pages.

• We encourage you to find ways to promote the ‘Stay Open, Stay Healthy’, ‘Stronger Together’, and ‘Avoid the 3 C’s’ messaging in your own ways!

• Pick up your ‘Stay Open, Stay Healthy’ for your store front from the chamber office beginning 11/9/20. *While supplies last.

We need to keep our communities healthy and prevent further disruption of any business. If we all work together, we can help slow the spread of COVID-19.

 We appreciate your support. If you have questions, please contact Mallory.Gibreal@mhcs.us

#StrongerTogether #StayOpenStayHealthy