Keeping you safe, in and out of Artesia General Hospital

Your health is our priority. Make it yours, too.

Our top priority has always been to protect the health of our patients and staff. Even before COVID-19 was discovered in our area, Artesia General Hospital began preparations to keep our community as safe and as healthy as possible. Today, we are operating under comprehensive, enhanced safety protocols. With these new measures in place, we will continue to provide a comfortable and safe environment for our patients, providers, nurses and staff.

We are here to ensure that your health stays protected—and that you have access to excellent medical care when you need it, no matter what. That’s why we’re offering:

• Comprehensive Safety Protocols: Many safety protocols were already in place at Artesia General Hospital, and we’ve added some additional steps and requirements in order to keep everyone safe. Learn more about our safety protocols.
• Telehealth: To help patients stay home comfortably, we’re expanding our telehealth capabilities. Most clinics associated with Artesia General Hospital are now offering appointments and consultations over the phone or by videoconferencing. Learn more about telehealth options.
• Surgery Guidelines: For patients who need to come into the hospital for procedures, we’ve implemented new guidelines and practices to keep everyone safe. Learn more about our surgery guidelines.

Our commitment to you hasn’t changed. We are still your destination for health, and your partner for life, and we’ve made sure you will be safe seeking care from us. So whether you’re overdue for an immunization, a cancer screening, blood sugar testing or a routine physical, you can trust that Artesia General Hospital is as safe as it has ever been.

If you have any questions, please call us at 575.748.3333 or speak with your medical provider.

Comprehensive Safety Protocols

A few important reminders if you will be visiting our hospital:

• Screenings: When you call for care, a staff member will screen you over the phone and again in person when you arrive. Behind the scenes, all employees are screened daily, and patient care staff are screened twice a day.
• Masks: If you have any respiratory symptoms, you will be asked to wear a mask at all times. Otherwise, you are encouraged to wear a mask consistent with CDC and NMDOH guidelines. You may notice, though, that all hospital employees with patient contact are masked at all times.
• Handwashing: Frequent, thorough handwashing is one of the most effective things you can do to avoid catching infectious diseases, so it’s always a good practice.
• Physical Distancing: New signage and directions will minimize unnecessary gathering and physical contact in hallways, waiting rooms and other public areas. Patients with COVID-related symptoms will be physically separated from those who do not have symptoms.
• Cleaning: The hospital receives regular and thorough cleaning, with enhanced measures for high traffic areas, such as waiting and exam rooms. Frequently touched surfaces are disinfected regularly.
• Visitor Restrictions: Visitor access to the hospital is temporarily restricted, to limit the potential for unnecessary exposure.
• COVID-19 Testing: Every outpatient surgery patient will receive COVID-19 testing before their procedure. Every patient admitted to the hospital will be tested as well.
• Limited Personal Contact: We’ve configured our processes from preregistration forward to eliminate unnecessary close contact. We are also encouraging telehealth appointments.

Telehealth at Artesia General Hospital

Not all care requires an in-person visit! Artesia General Hospital is dedicated to providing excellent care safely—so most clinics associated with our hospital have expanded telemedicine options in order to offer virtual visits. Whether you have a medical question your provider can answer in a phone call, or you need to speak to them face-to-face virtually, it’s easier than ever to connect. Here’s how it works:

1. Contact your regular provider and speak with the office staff. They’ll be able to help you decide what kind of care you should receive, and how best to connect with your provider. If necessary, they’ll help you set up a remote appointment.
2. Once you’ve scheduled your appointment, office staff will send a link to your email or smartphone.
3. Open the link at the appointment time, and you’ll be able to speak directly to your doctor or provider. This could mean speaking over the phone, or even connecting with video face-to-face, where you can see and talk to your provider and they can see and talk to you.

Visit our Medical Staff page to find a provider and learn more about the telehealth options they provide.

New Protective Measures

As our state and country lift restrictions and cautiously open back up, Artesia General Hospital has successfully resumed elective surgeries. Under enhanced safety protocols, it is now as safe as it has ever been to visit our hospital—so do not delay seeking the care you need out of fear or anxiety.

The plan we have developed and put into place meets or exceeds the guidelines put forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and the American Hospital Association.

We are following best practices for patient safety and keeping an eye on any updates from the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Some of the extra safety measures will be immediately apparent, while others will be more subtle; some will even be invisible to you. All of them have been taken to ensure your safety, and the safety our community.

For more information about what we’re doing to keep you safe in the hospital, read our Surgical Guide for Patients.

Important Safety Tips

Wear masks that cover your nose and mouth whenever you’re in a public place, including Artesia General Hospital. You’ll notice that all hospital employees will be wearing masks and other appropriate protective equipment at all times.

Pay attention to designated entrances and hallways. We’ve limited public entrances and restricted access to some parts of the hospital in order to eliminate unnecessary foot traffic. We’ve also established different areas and routes through the hospital to help social distancing in common areas.

Call ahead. If you’re feeling anxious about your health, please don’t hesitate to contact Artesia General Hospital at 575.748.3333 and speak with a provider or their office staff about what symptoms you’re experiencing and what your options are. They’ll happily answer any questions you might have about telehealth, new hospital safety measures; if necessary, they can help prepare the hospital for your visit.