What to do if you feel sick.

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms like fever, cough or shortness of breath, please call your health care provider first rather than coming into their office or a hospital. They will be able to help you determine your next steps.

Visitor Policies

Effective August 13, 2021, Regional One Health adjusted some visiting guidelines within the organization. Regional One Health is committed to providing the access needed to patients and their families during their stay at the hospital.  See below for general visitation guidance.  Please contact your loved one’s unit to ask about specific visitation hours or for questions before visiting.

Our goal is also to continue to protect our patients, their families, our staff and the community.  Therefore, social distancing and mask requirements are still in effect, and visitors are not allowed in rooms of patients who are COVID-positive for your protection.

  • One (1) visitor is allowed per patient per day in most inpatient units, including acute care, post-acute care and intensive care units.
  • One (1) visitor is allowed per patient in the emergency department.
  • Labor and Delivery patients may have one (1) support person to accompany them.  Post-delivery moms may have two (2) visitors per patient per day.
  • Ambulatory/outpatient offices will allow one (1) support person with each patient.
  • One (1) designated visitor may be with a patient before and immediately following a surgery or outpatient procedure.
  • Medical Records (HIM) is open for walk-ins, but requesting records via phone is strongly encouraged.  Patients may call 1-800-367-1500.
  • Patient Financial Services (PFS) is open for walk-ins, but patients are encouraged to call 901-545-6644 to make payments via phone.
  • Human Resources is open for walk-ins.
  • Gift Shop and Cafeteria are open to visitors on campus.
  • Waiting Rooms and Lobby Areas are open, but social distancing is required.

The following document contains information for Contractors, Vendors, and Business Partners of Regional One Health.

Click to download

What is coronavirus?

A coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause illnesses such as the common cold.  A novel coronavirus is one that has not been previously identified in humans. On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced the official name – Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19.

COVID-19

What are the symptoms?

New CDC Coronavirus Symptopm

How does COVID-19 spread?

The virus is thought to spread mainly through person to person contact including being in close contact with an infected person or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Elderly people and individuals with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.

What precautions should I take?

The best protection against COVID-19 is to avoid exposure to the virus in the first place. Even with vaccines become more readily available, it’s important to protect yourself and others at all times.

  • Wear a mask covering your nose and mouth when outside of your home.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Limit gathering with people who do not live in your household.
  • Avoid crowds.

When you leave your home, it is important that you follow social distancing guidelines to minimize risk of transmission.

Maintain 6 feet of space in all directions between yourself and other individuals, whether you are indoors or outdoors. For reference, 6 feet is about the length of a living room sofa, a household door or an adult-sized mattress. Many places of business, including Regional One Health, have placed signage to indicate how to keep a proper distance. Please adhere to the posted guidelines.

Also remember that washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is especially important after returning home from your essential errand.

Should I wear a facemask?

The CDC recommends wearing a facemask to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This is especially necessary in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores and pharmacies. Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth when removing your facemask and wash your hands immediately after removing.

Vaccine Myths vs. Facts

The vaccines approved for COVID-19 have been rigorously tested and found to be effective and safe. Below are answers from Regional One Health experts to some of the most common questions about the vaccines. Remember, if you have specific questions about whether you should be vaccinated, consult with your health care provider.

Myth: The vaccines were developed too fast to be safe.

Fact: The speed is due to unprecedented global cooperation among scientists and ample funding for vaccine development. Also, the vaccines are based on existing research and technology.

Remember, the coronavirus vaccines went through the same rigorous testing process as any other vaccine and were proven to be highly safe and effective.

Myth: The vaccine’s side effects are worse than the virus.

Fact: The most common documented side effects from the vaccines are short-term soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, body aches, chills, stomach discomfort and fever.

On the other hand, coronavirus has killed over half a million people in the United States. Many more patients have suffered severe illness, hospitalization and long-term debilitating symptoms.

Myth: The vaccine can give me coronavirus.

Fact: None of the vaccines contain coronavirus, so this isn’t possible.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines cause your body to make antibodies that stop the coronavirus from invading cells. Johnson and Johnson uses the virus that causes the common cold to spark an immune response. The parts of the cold virus that make you sick have been removed.

Myth: I can’t get the vaccine due to preexisting conditions.

Fact: The vaccines were studied and proven safe for patients with comorbidities like diabetes and heart disease. Because they are not live vaccines, they are safe for immunocompromised patients.

It is especially important for patients with comorbidities or weakened immune systems to get the vaccine because they are at higher risk for serious illness or death from COVID-19. If you have questions about how the vaccines relate to your personal health, talk to your health care provider.

Myth: I already had coronavirus, so I can’t or don’t need to be vaccinated.

Fact: Studies show the vaccine is safe for people who had the virus and that it causes a robust immune response. It is unknown how durable the antibodies are in a person who recovered from the virus, so the safest choice is to get the vaccine.

Myth: One dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine is enough.

Fact: While one shot provides some protection, two doses are needed for full effectiveness. For the Pfizer vaccine, the second dose is given 21 days after the first. Moderna’s second dose is at day 28. The Johnson & Johnson product is a one-dose vaccine.

Myth: I should hold out for a specific vaccine.

Fact: The best vaccine is the one you have access to. All of the vaccines were proven safe through rigorous testing, and they are all highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death.

Myth: The vaccines cause infertility.

Fact: This arose from reports that a protein in the virus is similar to a protein in the placenta. There is no study or scientific evidence showing a link between vaccination and infertility.

Myth: It’s OK to wait and see what happens before getting my vaccine.

Fact: If you aren’t vaccinated, you are still at risk of COVID-19 and of infecting others. That means you can become seriously ill or cause someone else to become seriously ill.

Experts say 70 percent of the population must be vaccinated before the virus will be considered manageable and life can begin to safely return to normal.

Myth: After I’m vaccinated I can stop taking precautions.

Fact: You should continue with wearing a facemask, social distancing and good hand hygiene after you are vaccinated. Getting the vaccine protects you from coronavirus, but it’s possible you could be exposed and infect someone else.

Other Resources

There are many online resources from trusted sources where you can learn more about COVID-19.

The Shelby County Health Department’s main number is 901-222-9000.  A hotline has also been established by the Health Department at 901-692-7523.

A COVID-19 Public Information line has also been established by the Tennessee Department of Health at 877-857-2945.

CDC –  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center – https://uthsc.edu/medicine/coronavirus/index.php

Shelby County Health Department – https://insight.livestories.com/s/v2/shelby-county-health-department-covid-19/db01f01b-3f9d-460a-9548-1db37ed0ccbd

Ways to give

We are humbled by the generosity of the members of our community who have asked how they can help support our staff and patients during the COVID-19 outbreak. Together, we can do so much more than we could ever do on our own. If you are interested in donating supplies to Regional One Health, please click the button below and complete the necessary forms. A member from our team will contact you within 2-3 business days. Thank you for your generosity and solidarity.

Regional One Health is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Tax exemption No: 466004992.