COVID-19 Notice & Information
Guadalupe Regional Medical Center has a long-standing commitment to the health care needs of our community. Our commitment to safeguarding the health of our patients, visitors and staff is our highest priority. This is why we are taking extra measures to minimize this risk of exposure for yourself and others to ensure our commitment to giving you a safe, reliable place to receive care.
Guided by our quality and infection prevention experts and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we have taken a number of steps in addition to our standard rigorous infection control measures to ensure our facilities remain safe places for you to confidently receive care. For frequently asked questions, please visit our FAQ Page.
MASKS ARE REQUIRED AT GRMC
Governor Abbott announced that as of March 10, 2021 the Texas orders requiring masks to be worn in businesses and limiting business occupancy to below 100% will no longer be in effect. The new order allows businesses to determine whether they choose to require employees and patrons to mask and encourages personal responsibility for social distancing and face coverings. GRMC will continue to follow CDC guidance and require masks for the protection of our patients and our healthcare workers. GRMC will continue to require that masks be worn by all staff and visitors within the building and will continue with current screening practices.
The new guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for fully vaccinated persons against COVID-19 do not apply to healthcare settings. Visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, should wear a well-fitting cloth mask, face mask, or respirator. Visitors will be screened upon entry for signs/symptoms of COVID-19. Visitors in common spaces (waiting areas, café) will need to maintain social distancing and masking.
As of March 30, 2022, GRMC will allow visitors between the hours of 8am and 6pm* – see exceptions below:
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU): Two visitors allowed in room at a time.
- Emergency Room: 24 hours a day. Two visitors allowed in room at a time.
- Birthing Center: Two support persons are allowed during labor (unit will provide armbands). Max of four visitors allowed in room at a time. *Visiting hours are from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
Please Note:
- Additional exceptions may be made on an individual basis for special circumstances e.g. end of life, religious visitation, and designated support person for patient.
- Children are welcome to visit but must have a supervising adult with them at all times (masks required for ages 4 and up).
- After hours visitors will need to enter through the Emergency Department.
Visitors who will visit a COVID-19 patient who is in isolation:
- Visitors understand that visiting a patient with COVID-19 puts the visitor at risk for exposure to COVID-19. The visitor agrees to accept all responsibility for that risk.
- Visitors will be screened for signs or symptoms of respiratory illness and will not be permitted to visit if signs or symptoms are present.
- Visitors will be expected to wear a mask covering the mouth and nose at all times and perform hand hygiene before and after visit. It is highly recommended that visitors wear additional personal protective equipment (gloves, gown) during visit.
- The visitor is expected to limit movement within the facility. Visitors must agree to stay in the patient room and limit going to other areas in the hospital.
- Visitors who do not comply with visitor guidelines may be asked to leave.
- Visitors for COVID-19 patients may be restricted if the attending physician determines that visitation poses a serious community health risk.
Virtual visits with your loved ones continue to be encouraged for your safety. We encourage you to stay in touch with patients through phone calls and videoconferencing. If there is any way we can help coordinate a virtual visit via phone call or “face time” with your family members, please notify your patient’s care team.
We understand that family communication is important during this time. We want to make sure you can stay connected and engaged with your loved one during their hospital stay. Please see below for more information about patient/family communication:
What you can do at the Time of Admission:
- Confirm who your loved one’s legally authorized health care representative (medical or health care power of attorney) will be. This is the person who makes decisions when a person cannot speak for themselves. Give the person’s name and phone number(s) to the hospital team.
- Discuss who will be the primary family contact. We can only give out information to family members with the patient’s permission. We know there are many people who care about your loved one. Please choose one person who will talk to the hospital team during the stay – this allows the health care team to devote their time to your loved one.
- It is best if the primary contact is the legally authorized health care representative.
- That person can then share the information with your loved one’s family and community.
- Give the name and phone number(s) for a back-up person.
- Give the hospital team a copy of your loved one’s advance directive/living will if they completed one. (You can also mail or drop off later if you don’t have it now.)
- Inform the hospital team about what kind of technology the primary family contact has at home. Does that person have a smartphone (like an iPhone or Android), tablet (like an iPad or Chromebook), or computer with a camera and internet?
- Plan how you and your loved one will stay in touch while you are apart. You can use the bedside phone number that the hospital will provide if your loved one is admitted to our Medical Unit. If your loved one has a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer you may leave it with them. Be sure the device is labeled with their name and please provide a charger cord that is also labeled with their name.
What to Expect:
- The designated family contact will hear from a care team member each day between 1p-4p for regular updates or more frequently if the patient’s condition or treatment changes
- COVID patients admitted to the ICU will also be assigned a family liaison Monday-Friday who will facilitate communication with the family contact.
- We encourage you to stay in touch with patients through phone calls and videoconferencing. If there is any way we can help coordinate a virtual visit via phone call or “face time” with your family members, please let us know during your daily call.
The COVID-19 vaccine was made using new technology. Some are hesitant to get the vaccine. Charles Nolan, MD explains the science of how the COVID-19 vaccine was created and how it works.
Vaccine technology has been utilized for centuries. The new technology used in creating the COVID-19 vaccines is safe. Hear Charles Nolan, MD explain the history of vaccines and how the COVID-19 vaccine can help save lives.
When the possibility of using Hydroxychloroquine or Ivermectin came out, doctors quickly figured out that those medications are not suitable medicines to treat COVID-19. Hear Dr. Charles Nolan explain why those medications do not work against it and a safer plan of attack to help patients with it.
It’s important for high-risk patients to get the vaccine. Dr. Charles Nolan speaks about the science behind why and how the vaccine can help protect high-risk patients from COVID-19.
Moms-to-be have a lot to worry about, including whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Hear Dr. Charles Nolan speak about why expecting mothers should get the vaccine (and at any trimester).
Viruses can mutate. It’s how the delta variant of COVID-19 came to be. 7 people can be affected by one person with the Delta variant. Dr. Charles Nolan explains why the new variant is cause for concern for those unvaccinated.
COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Information:
Your best protection from COVID-19 will be a combination of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands often. No one tool alone is going to stop the pandemic. Texas continues to receive doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, and is distributing statewide to hospitals, pharmacies, local health departments, freestanding ERs, and other clinics. GRMC will continue to communicate with the Texas organizations that are working to distribute vaccines.
For more information on COVID-19 testing and vaccine locations, please use one or more of the options below:
- Contact your local family physician and/or pharmacy
- Visit Vaccines.gov to find vaccination providers near you.
- Text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find vaccine locations near you.
- Contact the Texas Department of State Health Services
- Check your local news outlets. They may have information on how to get a vaccination appointment.
COVID-19 Test Results:
GRMC is working to provide COVID-19 test results as quickly as feasible. Test results are taking on average 5-10 business days to process. Lab results for specimens obtained at Guadalupe Regional Medical Center or Guadalupe Regional Urgent Care at Clear Springs will be available on our respective patient portals. You can obtain further information regarding portal access at www.grmedcenter.com and www.grmedgroup.com. For tests performed at the Guadalupe Regional Urgent Care please send a message through the patient portal requesting your results.
Results will be posted to the portal(s) as soon as they become available and called to the patient as soon as possible. GRMC has set up a dedicated phone line at 830-401-1370 for test result inquiries. Patients may leave a message inquiring about test results and will be called back in the order of their message.
Register for GRMC Patient Portal
V-safe:
V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell the CDC if you have any side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers to the web surveys, someone from the CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one. Register with CDC’s V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker.
What are monoclonal antibody infusions?
These products are laboratory-produced protein that functions like antibodies made by the immune system in response to an infection. The antibody infusion is used to help the body fight the virus or slow the virus’s growth.
Patients who are candidates for the monoclonal antibody infusion:
- Must be within 10 days of symptom onset
- Must NOT be hospitalized
- Must NOT require an increase in oxygen rate, if using for underlying condition, due to COVID-19
If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 10 days, contact your physician to see if you are a candidate for monoclonal antibody infusion.
If you don’t have a physician or can’t reach your physician, you may call (830) 481- 4332 to be screened for infusion eligibility.
Most infusions can be performed within 24 hours of referral.
2021 Press Releases
2020 Press Releases
SA Metro Health COVID-19 Hotline: 210.201.5779
Available resources in English and Spanish
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday & Sunday 9:30am – 4:30pm