COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

All staff, patients, and APPROVED visitors will be given a mask to wear while in the hospital.  Symptom screening will be required.  Masks must be worn at all times while inside any BGH facility.

Visiting Hours:  8 AM – 8 PM

Each non-COVID in-patient and Emergency Department patient will be allowed two visitors in a 24-hour time period.

Each COVID positive patient or patients refusing COVID testing may have one (1) designated support person.

• One (1) designated support person upon admission through discharge
• Designated support person must remain in patient room during visiting hours 8 am – 8 pm

Exceptions:

• Patients who are in end-of-life care

Visitors must pass COVID-19 screening criteria by the BGH staff before their visit.

If there is a special circumstance for additional patient visitors, the Nurse Supervisor will communicate with the Point of Entry staff to allow entry. Likewise, if there is a special circumstance for patient visitation after visiting hours, the Nurse Supervisor will communicate with the Emergency Department to provide a visitor pass after 8 pm.

Thank you for your cooperation as we navigate through these ever-changing times.

Points of Entry:

Bonner General Health has implemented limited entry points to the hospital and will be screening patients and the limited permissible visitors who enter the building. The following provides additional detail about these safety procedures:

Patients and visitors entering the hospital should come through PATIENT REGISTRATION. 

Exceptions:

• Those going to Immediate Care. 
• Those needing a COVID-19 test for travel, exposure, or if you are symptomatic:  enter the side entrance on the west side of the building on 3rd Ave., during collection site hours.  Saturday collection will take place through Patient Registration.

All other entry points will be closed; however, you may leave the building at any accessible exit.

Health Services Building Point of Entry
All staff, patients, and APPROVED visitors will be required to wear a mask while in the Health Services Building.  The building is accessible between the hours of 6 am and 5 pm, Monday–Friday.  All entrances and exits are unlocked during this time.

Testing site: 

COVID Testing

8:00 to 12:30 Monday – Saturday

All patients will be tested before admission.

Pre-procedure testing will be done in the Bonner General Health lab with a provider’s order.

Patients will wait in patient registration

*If a patient has an elective procedure and refuses the required COVID test, their surgery will be canceled.

Symptomatic COVID testing:

A provider’s order must be faxed to 888.398.1148.

The patient will get a demographic form from the Point of Entry/Greeter at Patient Registration to complete.

The patient will park in the Patient Registration parking lot, call the BGH lab Monday – Friday at 208.265.3347 and Saturday 208.265.1182 to notify of arrival

Lab employee will go out to the car and collect the test.

Additional Information:

• Testing for travel is available. Patients will be billed for travel tests.
• Vault tests are available while supplies last. There is no charge for a vault test.
• Results should be available within 24 hours through the patient portal.
• Instructions on how to access your test results are HERE.
• If the individual does not have a doctor’s order, they can be screened and tested by our Emergency Department Physician. This will be billed as an Emergency Department visit.
• To see the most up-to-date information from our local health district, please visit their website: panhandlehealthdistrict.org.

Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Unvaccinated people should get vaccinated and continue masking until they are fully vaccinated. With the Delta variant, this is more urgent than ever. CDC has updated guidance for fully vaccinated people based on new evidence on the Delta variant.

At this time, Bonner General Health is not operating a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic.  If the need arises for us to reopen our clinic, we will support our community and our healthcare partners.

Resources:

• What You Need to Know About the Vaccine
• Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work
• Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
• Myths & Facts About the COVID-19 Vaccine

• Get Vaccinated
• Wear a mask
• Wash your hands often.
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible.
• Avoid crowd & poorly ventilated spaces.
• Monitor your health daily
• More tips HERE

COVID-19 test before procedure or surgery.  What do I need to do?

All pre-procedure Covid testing, regardless of procedure location, will now be performed through the Bonner General Outpatient Lab. The patient will need to register through Patient Registration and will then be sent to our Outpatient Lab for Covid testing and other labs as needed. The Lab is available for testing Monday-Friday from 07:30-5:00.

Where can I get a COVID-19 test if I have been exposed, have symptoms, or travel?

Patients with Covid symptoms, exposure, or who need a test for travel will go through our Covid collection site, now located at BGH.

Collection Site hours:

• Monday – Saturday 8 am – 12 pm

*Hours are subject to change.  A provider’s order is required to receive a COVID-19 test.

What if I do not have a Primary Care Provider?

If you are sick, you can be seen through our Emergency Department as an ED patient.  Emergency Department billing will apply.

Panhandle Health District is writing orders for COVID-19 tests.  Call 877-415-5225 Monday-Friday 9am-noon & 1pm-4pm.

How much does a COVID-19 test cost?

A COVID-19 test cost $150.00 + $47.00 lab draw fee.

*Most insurances pay for all of this without any out-of-pocket for the patient;  however, please check with your insurance company to confirm your coverage.  If you do not have insurance, a government program can be utilized to cover the services.

If you are uninsured and pre-pay, a 20% discount is given.

I am experiencing symptoms, and it is after hours.  What do I do?

Call our Emergency Department at (208) 265-1020 and report your symptoms.  If it is recommended that you come in for a test, arrive at the Emergency Department, stay in your car, and call the above number.  One of our staff members will come to you.

*Please note there will be an Emergency Department fee associated with your visit.

How do I get my COVID-19 test results?

All COVID-19 test results will be available through the BGH Patient Portal.  Information will be needed (such as an email address) to use the patient portal.  Click HERE to sign up or log in—instructions for using the patient portal HERE.

If you were seen in our Emergency Department and received a COVID-19 test, and you test positive, one of our staff members will call you.

If you have an order from your provider and were tested during drive-through hours, your primary care provider will call with your results.

What should I do while I’m waiting for my results?

If you are awaiting test results for COVID-19, please, self-isolate and avoid contact with anyone outside of your home; this is crucial to limiting the spread of COVID-19.

What if I am positive?

Please self-isolate and limit contact to anyone outside of your home.

How can I get an IgG Antibody test?

Call your primary care provider if you would like to be tested for the COVID-19 Antibody, SARS-CoV-2.  Once an order is received, a blood draw will be taken at our laboratory services department.  *Please note:  upon entry to Bonner General Health, you will be asked a series of screening questions regarding COVID-19 symptoms and required to wear a mask.  We will provide one if you do not have one.

How much is a COVID IgG Antibody test?

If you are uninsured and want a test, $60 + $20 for the lab draw.  A 20% discount is given if you pre-pay.

Does my insurance cover the test?

Some insurances are covering Antibody testing.  Please contact your insurance company to find out if they will cover the test.

Additional information HERE

Here are some guidelines on what to do if you are exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive:

o  Quarantine if you have been in close contact (within 6 feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has COVID-19 unless you have been fully vaccinated. People who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even they don’t have symptoms, and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.

o Call your primary care provider and report the potential exposure.

o If you test negative, follow CDC and Panhandle Health guidelines regarding precautions you should continue to take for the next 14 days.

o If you test positive, please self-isolate and limit contact to anyone outside of your home, except to seek medical treatment.

o *If you are unwell and need to visit the Emergency Department, please do so. Call ahead at (208) 265-1020 to let them know you have been exposed to COVID-19 and are sick with symptoms.

o If you are in distress and having difficulty breathing, call 9-1-1. Let the dispatcher know you are having COVID-19 symptoms and have had contact with someone who tested positive.

According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild to severe illness.

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.  People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention:

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone.

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 or call the Emergency Department before you arrive at (208) 265-1020.  A staff member will meet you outside.

All Pre-procedure COVID testing will be done at the Bonner General Health Outpatient Lab. Enter at Patient Registration Mon-Fri 07:30-5:00

520 N. Third Ave. Sandpoint, ID 83864

COVID-19: Updated pre-operative information for surgical patients.