GCGH moves routine outpatient labs to TeamOrtho Clinic

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Greene County General Hospital (GCGH) announced today that beginning March 18, the TeamOrtho Clinic, located at 1043 North 1000 West in

Linton, will draw routine labs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

GCGH asks that patients take lab orders to TeamOrtho and call your provider if you have any questions. The My Clinics phone number is 812-847-4481.

In a daily update live-streamed on the GCGH facebook page, GCGH CEO Brenda Reetz and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Gamble added that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Greene County.

“We still do not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 and we have done some testing and we’re still waiting on those test results but nothing is confirmed at this time,” Reetz said. Our goal at the hospital continues to be to slow the spread of this

virus, not just throughout Greene County, but throughout our state and our country.”

Dr. Michael Gamble answered some questions the hospital had been receiving about COVID-19 and talked about ways to prevent the spread of the virus, as well as the difference between COVID-19 and the common flu.

“A lot of people have been comparing the new COVID-19 virus to influenza and they are similar, in the fact that they are both viral infections, but none of us have been exposed to this new virus and that’s really the key as to why it’s spreading across the world and our country rapidly,” Gamble said. “Most cases of COVID-19 are mild, they have flu-like symptoms, respiratory complaints, 80 percent of people are mild illnesses. Another 15 percent are more severe and they feel shortness of breath and typically have low oxygen levels and may need to be in the hospital. Five percent of the people who get this virus around the

world have needed critical care and have been the ones who get the most sick,” Gamble added. “At this time we have not had a positive COVID-19 test in Greene County. If the spread of this virus around the world and around the United States is any indication, we will soon see cases in our area. Our goal as a hospital and a health system is to prepare our hospital and clinics for this inevitable spread.”

Dr. Gamble said the recommended treatment for people that have COVID-19 infection, for the most part, is symptom treatment including self-isolation at home and the normal flu symptom treatment.

“There is no medicine that is going to cure this illness. Since the testing is limited, we recommend that people consult their health care provider by phone, so they are not out in the community spreading this illness. They shouldn’t come to the hospital unless they are short of breath or feel they have an emergency,” Gamble said. “Self-isolation at home is the best prevention for the illness,” Dr. Gamble recommends. “We need to be at home self-isolating, there’s no vaccine currently available, nor will there be one in the near future. Good hand washing, hand sanitizing, avoid touching your face, your head, your nose and your eyes. It’s important to clean and frequently disinfect things you touch, such as doorknobs and countertops. We want everybody in our community to be safe from this illness. Social distancing is what we recommend at this time for prevention.”

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