"YES, THE E.R. IS SAFE (AND ESSENTIAL) FOR KIDS DURING COVID,
SO DON'T DELAY CARE"
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COVID-19 awareness, precautions, news and other developments continue to ebb and flow with the changing times.
But one thing is clear – even amid more confirmed COVID-19 cases in Southwest Florida: Parents and guardians should NOT delay medical care for their child when they need it. That means visits to the doctor’s office, but also – most importantly – trips to the emergency department or calls to 911.
Children can have a variety of symptoms and conditions that require immediate attention: high fever, acute pain (such as appendicitis), trauma from an accident or fall, trouble breathing, broken bones, seizures and more.
Of course, one reason many parents may delay bringing their child to the ER is because of COVID-19 concerns or questions about visitation policies. Armando Llechu, chief administrative officer at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, assures parents and families that the hospital follows strict safety guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control. And children ARE allowed to have family members with them inside the hospital.
“We’re open, we’re here to serve you,” Llechu says. “Bring your kids to the hospital if you need care, and don’t delay. If you keep your child home sick, you keep your child at great risk”
Visitation Policy: Two Visitors Allowed to Be with Children
Golisano’s official, updated visitation policy states:
- Each patient will be allowed two (2) designated visitors noted upon admission (over 12 years of age). These visitors can be with the patient, in their room, at all times. This also includes the Sedation, Outpatient, Pediatric Oncology, and the Pediatric Perianesthesia areas.
- Exceptions apply to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The policy means that children won’t be facing potentially scary situations without family members right beside them. Our dedicated professionals at the Golisano ER are also highly trained in helping to ease anxiety and making the hospital as comfortable as possible.
Safety Precautions
Parents, guardians and families should know that every single Lee Health facility conforms to strict safety guidelines when it comes to social distancing, cleaning, masks, and more. Here are a few of the highlights to give you better peace of mind:
- All staff members wear masks.
- Doctors, nurses and other clinicians wear masks, gowns, and gloves when examining patients.
- Every staff and clinical member starting their shift at any Lee Health facility have their temperature checked before they enter the building. They will also be screened through a series of questions to rule out COVID-19. Any employee who tests over 100°F will be sent home immediately and not allowed to resume work until medically cleared.
- All patients are required to wear masks for the ENTIRE time they are inside our facilities.
- Every patient is screened for symptoms of COVID-19 upon entering the building.
- Waiting rooms are realigned so that chairs are 6 feet apart, per social distancing guidelines.
- Patients with COVID-19 who are admitted to a hospital will continue to be separated from other hospital units.
And our cleaning crews are busy working night and day to clean, scrub and disinfect.
“We’re taking extreme measures to obsessively keep all patient and work areas clean and sanitized,” says Dr. Alex Daneshmand, chief quality and patient safety officer at Lee Health. “Our commitment is hard and fast because we know these precautions protect and support our patients, colleagues, and caregivers while we determine the safest way to phase back in important procedures and other medical services.”
So remember: In an emergency, time is critical. It may even save a life. Although COVID-19 has taken over our lives in a lot of ways, it has not interfered with the level of care, the dedication to safety, and the expert service we can provide to your children.
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TONIGHT: THE STATE OF LEE COUNTY |
Tonight's Leadership NEXT virtual event (Tuesday, August 11 at 5:00PM) will focus on the "State of Lee County." The event will provide an overview of Lee County’s response to COVID-19, including the LeeCares program and its efforts to offer immediate assistance for individuals, families and businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The August program will be led by Brian Hamman, chair of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, and John Talmage, director of the Lee County Economic Development Office. A Lee County native, Hamman’s priorities as a county commissioner are to bring jobs to the community, keep taxes low and protect the environment that draws so many to the region. Talmage has spent his career working in economic development for both municipal governments and research organizations.
The Leadership NEXT program is free for members of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and $5 for future members. Attendees need to register in advance to receive webinar login credentials.
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The Leadership NEXT program is sponsored by WearTheFund, a wholesale custom apparel company. WearTheFund is offering all registered attendees $100 off a purchase of $200 or more of logoed apparel.
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In 1967 SuEllen’s parents opened a flower shop in the suburb of Hoffman Estates, Illinois a northwest suburb of Chicago, called Fabbrini’s flowers. It was a family business and all 4 children worked in the shop at an early age. SuEllen, being the oldest, learned how to run a flower business from the ground up literally from sweeping the floors to running their Woodfield mall store and managing the entire operation of 3 locations. SuEllen’s college education focused on interior design and marketing.
After starting a family in 1980’s she decided to move to Florida in 1988 and settled in Cape Coral. In 1990 an opportunity rose for SuEllen to purchase her own flower shop, which was her ultimate goal. Suellen has been active in the community with donations and works with all the local schools. SuEllen’s husband Tom, and daughter Amanda and son Brad still help out in the family business.
As one of the top florists in the state of Florida SuEllen’s Floral Company offers the best assortment of fresh flowers, roses, plants and silks. They pride themselves on the special system of hydrating for the care and handling of flowers. The company motto is … “we do it right the first time, every time” …. The design of each flower arrangement is done with the utmost care.
SuEllen’s Floral Company is dedicated to providing the best experience for you. And want you to become one of their satisfied regulars, “…. to us you’re not just a another customer, you’re like family!”
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING & CERTIFICATION |
Courses are $99 and the workshops being offered are:
Innovation Management
The Customer Experience
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Speaking for Success
D.A.R.E. to FLY: Design Strategies for Success
Selling on Facebook, eBay, and Amazon
Additional programs will be added. These programs will set you up for success and improve your confidence, expand your knowledge base and set you up to achieve your goals, show that you are driven, career-focused, and motivated to enhance your professional skills.
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Next Tuesday, August 18 is the primary election and early voting has begun in Florida. We have created a new 2020 Election page on our website that has interviews with candidates in various area races.
These videos were created by the Southwest Florida Alliance of Chambers, of which the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is a member. The Southwest Florida Alliance of Chambers met with candidates running in several Lee and Collier county elections to discuss their priorities as it relates to business, the economy and water quality.
The Southwest Florida Alliance of Chambers is a coalition of Collier and Lee chambers of commerce, committed to serving as a catalyst for positive change impacting business, environment and tourism. Founded in the wake of the 2018 water crisis, the organization advocates at the local, state and federal levels to improve Southwest Florida’s quality of life.
Neither the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce nor the SWFL Alliance of Chambers endorse candidates.
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