KALISPELL — Kalispell Regional Medical Center (KRMC) will begin its second phase of reopening starting next week.
KRMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Doug Nelson says that the first phase of reopening the hospital has gone well.
The hospital is currently allowing more in-office visits for low-risk patients, but Dr. Nelson says the safety and health of patients and staff is paramount.
Staff members and patients must wear masks, have their temperatures checked, and they must fill out a coronavirus (COVID-19) questionnaire to asses their risk.
Dr. Nelson explained that under the second phase more elective surgeries will start as well as those requiring out-patient procedures.
He also told MTN News the hospital is taking extra precautions around those needing anesthesiology for surgery.
"For all of our surgeries that are going to require an anesthesiologist, and perhaps an endotracheal tube, we're going to be doing preoperative testing for COVID-19," said Nelson.
Dr. Nelson is not sure when phase three of reopening will happen, saying it all depends on how coronavirus trends continue.
He is reminding people that the virus is far from over and that people should continue to social distance, wear masks in public, and thoroughly wash their hands.
Click here for more information about the second phase of reopening at KRMC which will begin on May 4.