Public Notice

CoronaVirus (COVID-19) Update

Sept. 8, 2020 Updated Meritus Health Visitor Policy- click to view policy

NEW HOURS beginning sept. 12: Drive-thru screening center Fall hours - monday-friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. - noon.

Drive-Thru Screening Center, Non-Emergency Care COVID-19 Clinic Hours

As of Sept. 12: Our drive-thru screening center for COVID-19 testing is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. - noon. The drive-thru screening center is located behind Meritus Medical Plaza at 13620 Crayton Blvd. COVID-19 screening is available there at no cost to the patient, for all ages, with no appointment or referral needed. You do not have to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested.

As of June 8: Our non-emergency care COVID-19 clinic, also located at Meritus Medical Plaza (inside) is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.- NOON

NO COVID-19 TESTING IS AVAILABLE AT THIS CARE CLINIC. ALL TESTING ON THIS CAMPUS IS COMPLETED THROUGH THE DRIVE-THRU SCREENING CENTER DURING THE HOURS OF MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. and SATURDAYS 8 A.M. - NOON.

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COVID-19 Antibody Testing Open to the Public

Beginning June 10, COVID-19 antibody testing is open to the general public. Anyone interested in receiving the test must first speak with his/her primary care provider and request a laboratory order. The lab order may then be presented at any Meritus Medical Laboratory patient service center. Locations and hours of operation are available here. Insurance or patients will be billed for antibody testing.

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REMINDER - Meritus Medical Group Practices, Other Outpatient Services, Safe and Fully Open for In-Person Visits

In-patient appointments are available for patients of Meritus Medical Group practices and other outpatient services of Meritus Health. To visit with your provider, please call the practice first and directly speak to a staff member to make an appointment. Telehealth and e-visits will continue to be available as options. These "virtual visits" have become a natural addition to the continuum of care since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when patients had to remain in their homes.

Please be aware of new guidelines when coming to a health care practice for an in-person visit:

Masks must be worn by all patients upon entering the practice. If the patient does not have a mask, a face covering will be offered to him/her upon arrival.

All patients will have their temperature checked upon entering the practice.

Patients should significantly limit the number of support people they bring with them to the appointment. No one attending the appointment with a patient should be younger than age 18.

Please practice good hand hygiene before, during and after the appointment.

Please try and maintain the appropriate social distance to other in the practice - a minimum of six feet from other people. Appointments are being staggered in order to limit the number of people in the waiting rooms at one time.

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MyChart E-visits

Meritus Medical Group offers electronic visits (e-visits) for current patients through MyChart. An e-visit can replace a clinic appointment or certain urgent care visits. E-visits should only be used for non-urgent medical conditions. Request your e-visit by visiting Mychart.meritushealth.com and logging in to your account.

Telehealth Visits - Now Available

This service allows patients who are not connected to a physician to have an electronic telehealth appointment with a primary care provider to discuss COVID-19 or other general health concerns. To request a telehealth visit, please complete the form located here.

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Stay Connected to Hospitalized Patients – Zoom Virtual Visits

Being separated from your loved one can be difficult during this time. As a result, the patient experience team offers virtual visits via Zoom at your loved one's bedside. Our virtual coordinator is able to assist you to set up a virtual visit and can be reached at 240-310-3163.

Medical Records Requests

HIM/Medical Records is unable to take walk-in requests for medical records at this time.

If you have an urgent need, please call 301-790-8137 during office hours, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday.

Meritus Health Visitor Restrictions

NEW - As of Sept. 8 We are pleased to welcome visitors back to Meritus Medical Center. Our focus continues to be on the safety of our patients, staff and community. We request that only close family or loved ones visit at this time. Please see the additional guidelines below:

Highlights of the updated policy include:

Please call your loved one’s nurse to determine if it is safe for you to begin visitation.

Restriction of all visitors younger than age 18 from inpatient and ambulatory areas unless he/she is the parent of a pediatric patient.

Facemasks must be worn at all times when in the building.

If you are coming to the hospital for child birth please read the full policy for specifics related to your stay.

Visitors must enter through the Meritus Medical Center front lobby to be screened for flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath and will not be able to visit the patient if symptomatic or if exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.

NEW - For Adult Inpatients, Obstetrics and Emergency Room Patients: One visitor is allowed with the patient and in the hospital at a time. Exception: End of life care patients may have two visitors

- For Adult Inpatients, Obstetrics and Emergency Room Patients: One visitor is allowed with the patient and in the hospital at a time. Pediatric Inpatients: One or two designated caregivers will be allowed for the duration of the hospital stay. NOTE: Swapping of visitors is allowed, but must take place in the parking lot and everyone will be screened for flu-like symptoms upon entry to the hospital.

Visiting Hours are 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5 - 9 p.m. There will be an overhead announcement 15 minutes prior to the end of visitation hours and we ask that you please use this time to pack up any belongings and say goodbye to your loved ones. Staff will kindly remind visitors of departure time if you have not already excused yourself Exceptions: Patients with a disability who require bedside care from a caregiver due to the specifics of their disability. Patients undergoing emergency surgery related to a traumatic event. Pediatric patients

Please stay in the patient’s room as much as possible during your visit Walking through the halls, standing outside of the patient’s room, standing at the nurse’s station, are not allowed. If you have questions or concerns for the nursing staff, please utilize the call bell system in the patient’s room and we will be more than happy to come in and assist you

All visitors must check in through a security checkpoint.

Click here to read the full policy

COVID-19 Resources

Meritus Health COVID-19 Care Line and Email

301-790-9170 (to speak with a health care professional)

COVID-19@meritushealth.com (you will receive a response within 48 hours).

Additional Resources

COVID-19 Donations

Gifts to the Meritus Healthcare Foundation are tax-deductible and have a tremendous impact on the care of our community. We care about our patients and we care about you.

Monetary Donations- Help Our Heroes

If you would like to help support our front line staff or the hospital by donating money you may do so by using the link below.

Donations to the Help our Heroes fund will be used to support, encourage, provide meals and bring comfort to team members at Meritus Health – staff willing to put themselves on the front-line, every shift of every day to care for our community. Each of our nurses, doctors, nursing assistants, lab techs, environmental service staff, security guards and so many others are our neighbors, friends and family – let’s show them we care.

If you would like to provide an in-kind donation or have already donated and would like a tax deductible receipt, please complete the form located here.