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Call Ahead!
with COVID-19 Symptoms or Exposure

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, call your local healthcare provider before you visit.

Symptoms

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, including:

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

Note: This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as more is learned about COVID-19.

Additional Resources

HRMC COVID-19 Podcasts

Coronavirus Treatment Rx
May 18, 2020
Community and HRMC Update on Cornovirus
May 01, 2020
Preparedness for COVID and Other Patients
April 27, 2020
Dr. James Kerr on COVID-19 Preparedness
April 20, 2020
ER Preparedness
April 13, 2020

HRMC COVID-19 News Updates

HRMC Reduces Restrictions on Outpatient Tests and Treatments
May 18, 2020
HRMC Closes to Visitors
March 27, 2020
HRMC Medical Providers Urge Residents to Stay Safe, Stay Home
March 27, 2020
HRMC Taking Precautions to Protect Patients, Staff & the Community
March 20, 2020
HRMC Continues to Recommend Social Distancing
March 20, 2020
HRMC Updates Visitor Restrictions
March 17, 2020
COVID-19 Call Center Now Open
March 16, 2020
HRMC Prepared for Safe Care
March 12, 2020
Understanding Novel Coronavirus for our Community
February 7, 2020

Stay Home, Stay Safe!

Message from Our CEO

By their very nature, pandemics are disruptive. They remind us that not everything is under our control. I was thinking back to the Biblical account of the Tower of Babel. Humans thought they had everything figured out, so much so that they believed they could reach the eternal heavens. As the story goes, an epic collapse transformed their lives forever.

Astonishingly, a microbe can change the entire world. COVID-19 has the potential to impact every person on the planet. It must not, however, impact our core values. By working together, we can leverage our knowledge to protect our communities and return normalcy to daily life.

Our internal character must remain firm when our outside world is shaken. This pandemic serves as a reminder that our talents are for the service of humanity, not individual gain.

We will get through this by “working together” to meet the needs of our community, which has always been our mission.

David Dick
HRMC President & CEO

We're All in This Together

HRMC Chief of Staff
Dr. Elyse Brock

Watch videos from HRMC's Medical Executive Committee members encouraging the community to help flatten the curve on HRMC's YouTube Channel.

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Huron Regional Medical Center continues to work closely with and is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) to help protect staff and patients from the coronavirus strain known as COVID-19.

What is COVID-19?

It is a respiratory illness that first surfaced in late 2019. It can spread from person to person. Risk of infection is higher in people who are in close proximity to people with COVID-19 such as healthcare workers or household members.

What if I have questions?

The Huron community has a call center to help respond to questions and offer information about the Cornoavirus disease (COVID-19), possible symptoms, patient screening for testing and resources. The call center, which is staffed by medical professionals, can be reached at (605) 353-6214 and will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If a representative is not readily available, callers should leave a message, which the call center will return.

If it is an emergency, you should call (605) 353-6200 or dial 911 immediately. So staff at the main hospital number can help those that have an urgent medical need, all other COVID-19 inquiries should contact the call center number and leave a message if a representative is not readily available. All messages will be returned and your patience is appreciated.

What do I do if I get sick?

The symptoms of COVID-19 can vary from mild to severe respiratory illness. Follow the CDC guidelines if you are sick. Keep in mind, about 80% of patients who have COVID-19 can be treated at home. The rate of patients who experience serious complications is only slightly higher than that of seasonal flu.

What if I need to get tested?

The Beadle County Unified Task Force has set up processes for testing at a location on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds that will limit exposure. The Task Force is working with the South Dakota Department of Health, which is the entity that determines which patients are tested. Testing is by appointment only and the test must be ordered by a physician.

IMPORTANT: The test is only available to individuals who have been screened by a healthcare provider and referred for the test. When reporting to your local clinic, CALL AHEAD before arriving to conduct this screening process, which will protect patients and staff.

Based on the severity of your symptoms, your provider may ask you to stay home and isolate yourself. Please follow these recommendations from the CDC.

If COVID-19 testing is ordered by the healthcare provider, the healthcare provider must contact the call center directly to request the test for you. After receiving your patient information and an order from the healthcare provider, the call center will contact you to schedule an appointment to be tested. The healthcare provider, the SD DOH or designated HRMC staff will then contact the patient directly with the results.

Does HRMC Charge for COVID-19 Testing?

HRMC does not charge the patient for diagnostic testing costs for COVID-19 when the collection is analyzed at HRMC or at the SD DOH laboratory. Though there is no charge for the actual COVID-19 diagnostic lab test, hospital charges do apply.

What can you do to help protect yourself and family?

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. View how to wash your hands the right way.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Be sure to wash your hands immediately after.
Avoid close contact with other people, especially those who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care. Follow the directions of your provider and public health officials if you are sick.
Refrain from touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Create a family plan to prepare for COVID-19 and develop a stay-at-home kit with food, water, medication and other necessary items.
Individuals at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness, such as older adults and people who have chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease, should take actions to reduce your risk of exposure.

HRMC's Health Library has added updated information on COVID-19. Visit the health library by clicking here.

The following information is syndicated from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.