Important Information
Enhanced patient safety policy
In order to protect our patients, visitors, physicians and caregivers from the spread of COVID-19, we are enacting a modified visitor policy beginning March 18, 2020 5:30am and continuing until further notice. This procedure applies to all patients within the surgery center.
Read our safety policy for COVID-19COVID-19 ASL videos
The CDC has produced a series of videos for the American Sign Language community on COVID-19.
About Coronavirus
With coronavirus (COVID-19), the safety of HCA West Florida Division patients and visitors remains our top priority. We regularly treat patients with infectious diseases and our clinical teams are highly trained in infection prevention protocols. HCA West Florida Division is closely monitoring COVID-19 developments in partnership with our local and state health departments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
What can I do to protect myself and others?
Public health officials recommend the following steps to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often, using either soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel for at least 20 seconds
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Stay up-to-date
For additional information and ongoing updates on COVID-19, please refer to local and state health departments and the CDC’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) hub.
Frequently asked questions
- Stay home when you feel sick and avoid close contact with others who are sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth, because this is where viruses can enter.
- Always cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw that tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects.
No, the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in children and adults. However, children with confirmed COVID-19 have generally presented with mild symptoms similar to a cold, including fever, runny nose and cough. Vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported. Based on available evidence, children do not appear to be at any higher risk or more susceptible to COVID-19 than adults. While some children and infants have been sick with COVID-19, infections in children are less common and adults make up most of the known cases to date.
Patients without symptoms or with mild to moderate symptoms will likely not be tested for the virus. A positive test does not change the course of the illness. It’s important to keep in mind that there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill should self- isolate, practice social distancing and care for themselves at home.
You might be tested for COVID-19 if you meet the criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, the CDC advises that clinicians should determine whether to order a test based on specific parameters. COVID-19 tests are not intended to be an assessment of your risk, but rather to confirm cases in symptomatic patients. If you are worried but don’t have symptoms, please stay home. Going to a doctor’s office or hospital adds to a higher concentration of people and further overwhelms the medical staff.
- Every patient, visitor and vendor is screened outside of our primary lobbies, ER entrances and loading docks.
- Points of entry to our facilities have been limited.
- As we often do during heavy influenza outbreaks, visitor restrictions have been instituted in patient care areas.
- We have done, and continue to do, deep cleaning throughout all of our care sites.
- Our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated to coordinate daily communication and response across all of our hospitals.
Recent news
Visit our newsroom for more information on Coronavirus related news.