Works to return services to pre-COVID levels
RANDOLPH, Vt.—Following guidance from the state and the easing of restrictions, Gifford Health Care is working toward returning to pre-pandemic levels of service, including resuming all outpatient surgical procedures at its medical center.
“Our team has reopened surgical services to meet the needs of our community while protecting their safety and that of our employees,” said Gifford Vice President of Operations Rebecca O’Berry. “Our committed providers and staff follow all best practices, including personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols, to keep everyone healthy and safe.”
O’Berry attributes Gifford’s ability to reopen services to Vermonters’ commitment to practicing social distancing and wearing masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the region.
“We are able to open back up because of this community and their support during this unprecedented time,” she said. “They are the reason we’re here, and we remain committed to providing them with access to the highest-quality care.”
In addition to surgical services, all of Gifford’s clinics throughout the region, primary care and specialty, are open, and diagnostic services, such as laboratory work and imaging, are also available.
“We encourage patients to schedule and keep their medical appointments, especially if they have a chronic condition,” said O’Berry. “Providing care is our top priority, and that includes helping our patients manage their conditions so they do not escalate and lead to more serious issues.”
Gifford’s delivery of services follows guidelines established by the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Patients who are scheduled for surgery at Gifford are tested for COVID-19 prior to their procedure. Additional Gifford protocols include providing patients with a mask if they arrive for an appointment without one, spacing chairs in waiting areas to allow for social distancing, and scheduling appointments to ensure minimal wait times.
For more information about Gifford, including services and clinic locations, visit giffordhealthcare.org. For more information about COVID-19 and answers to frequently asked questions, visit giffordhealthcare.org/coronavirus-covid-19, cdc.gov or healthvermont.gov.
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Gifford is a community hospital in Randolph, Vt., with family health centers in Berlin, Bethel, Chelsea, Randolph, Rochester, and White River Junction; and specialty services throughout central Vermont. A Federally Qualified Health Center and a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the country, Gifford is a full-service hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and inpatient unit; many surgical services; a day care; two adult day programs; and the 30-bed Menig Nursing Home, which was named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best 39 nursing homes in the country in 2012. The Birthing Center, established in 1977, was the first in Vermont to offer an alternative to traditional hospital-based deliveries, and continues to be a leader in midwifery and family-centered care. The hospital’s mission is to improve individuals’ and community health by providing and assuring access to affordable, high-quality health care in Gifford’s service area.
