Resources For Families And Loved Ones Of COVID-19 Patients

Premier Health understands that providing support and comfort for your loved ones in the hospital is a top priority. With limited visitation policies in place to keep everyone safe due to COVID-19, we know it can be difficult to stay in touch. The following information and resources will help you stay connected with your loved ones during their hospital stay and plan for their continued care once they return home.

Stay In Touch And Provide Support

Phone Calls And Mail

To reach your loved one by phone or to send them a gift via regular mail, contact patient information at the appropriate hospital for assistance:

Atrium Medical Center: (513) 974-4530(513) 974-4530
Miami Valley Hospital: (937) 208-2048(937) 208-2048
Miami Valley Hospital North Campus: (937) 208-8000(937) 208-8000
Miami Valley Hospital South Campus: (937) 208-8000(937) 208-8000
Upper Valley Medical Center: (937) 440-4717(937) 440-4717

Talk And Visit Through a Video Visit/Meeting On Your Smartphone, Tablet, Or Computer

If the patient does not have a smartphone, tablet, or computer available to use, let his or her nurse know, and the hospital will provide an iPad to help connect with visitors. The Microsoft Teams app can be used to stay in touch with patients in Premier Health hospitals.

How To Connect

Step 1: Schedule and get access to the video visit/meeting 

  • Talk to a care team member to schedule a time for the video visit/meeting. You will need to provide an email address to connect for the visit.
  • To access the meeting using a smartphone or tablet, download the Microsoft Teams app to your device prior to your scheduled time by going to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). If you will be using a computer, you do not need to download anything.

Step 2: Connect to the video visit/meeting

  • You will receive an email with a link to the Microsoft Teams meeting from “PremierHealthFamily.”
  • In the email, there will be a link that says, “Click here to join the meeting.”
  • At your scheduled time, click that link to join the meeting.
  • If you are on a computer, you will be automatically connected to the meeting.
  • If you are on a smartphone or tablet, depending on your device you will either choose “Join as Guest” and follow any prompts to join the meeting, or choose “Open with Teams” then type your name and select “Join meeting.”
  • Be sure to have your camera and audio turned on.
  • If you see the message “Someone in the meeting should let you in soon” or “When the meeting starts, we’ll let people know you’re waiting in the lobby,” please wait for a care team member to begin your video visit/meeting.

Deliver Personal Items Or Gifts

Staff at the information desk located in the main lobby of each hospital can assist with personal items or gift delivery to loved ones. All items must be in a closed bag and clearly labeled with the patient’s name and room number. Items can be dropped off during the following hours:

Atrium Medical Center: 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily
Miami Valley Hospital: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily
Miami Valley Hospital North Campus: 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily
Miami Valley Hospital South Campus: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday – Friday; 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Upper Valley Medical Center: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily

Order Food For Your Loved One

Patients can order meals directly by following the instructions on the menu on using the CBORD Patient App or on the television using Sonifi Meals.

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Care, Treatment, And Status Updates

It is best to choose a single contact person for your loved one’s health care team to share his or her condition and any updates. The contact should be the patient’s health care power of attorney or legal decision-maker, if there is one. Your loved one’s care providers will be in touch with the chosen person regularly, per the unit guidelines.

Our commitment to you: Someone from the care team will contact you at least once per day to provide an update on your loved one’s condition and progress. Should there be a significant change in his or her condition, or if your loved one moves to a new care area, the chosen contact person will be notified as soon as possible.

Understand Treatment Options

Your loved one’s physician will evaluate the treatment options available to determine which is most appropriate. Please keep in mind that each patient is unique, and therapies are not “one size fits all.” Your loved one’s care team will be able to explain why treatments and therapies have been chosen, as well as the benefits and any possible risks.

Review Educational Materials

Based on the care plan prescribed by the doctor, your loved one’s nurse will provide written or video educational materials about the diagnosis, treatment, medications, etc. To review this information, family members can ask the nurse for the access code for these materials and view them here.

Current Treatments And Drugs Approved Or Authorized For Use

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on treatment outside of the hospital that may be recommended by a health care provider.

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Discharge, Planning, And Recovery

Your loved one’s care team will start talking with you about plans for discharge within one day of his or her admission to the hospital to ensure there is enough time to prepare for any follow-up care, if needed. To honor your preferences and coordinate with other care providers, discharge planning decisions need to be made quickly, typically within 24 hours. Your discharge planner will talk with you about the timeline for decision-making.

  • A discharge planning team will assist with any arrangements for care after discharge.
  • In most cases, patients will be discharged to continue recovering in the comfort of their own home. Insurance may pay for some home health services to aid in recovery. In some cases, additional help and support is needed. When that happens, your discharge planning team will help connect you with private home care providers to meet your specific needs.
  • Your loved one may need additional support or supervision during their recovery period that requires placement in a care facility. There are options available for an extended care facility, inpatient rehab, long-term acute care hospital, and hospice for those who are still in an isolation period (they can still spread the infection) and those who have been removed from isolation. Your discharge planning team will review the needs of your loved one and provide choices to meet those needs. The same team will coordinate the care of your loved one with the appropriate facility, insurance, or other financial arrangements. 
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidance if you are caring for someone with COVID-19 at home and offers the following discharge instructions for patients:
    • You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis.
    • As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
    • Do not handle pets or other animals while sick.
    • Avoid sharing personal items with other people in your household, like dishes, towels, and bedding.
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
    • Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue and dispose of the tissue in a lined trash can.
    • Clean all surfaces that are touched often, like counters, tabletops, and doorknobs. Use household cleaning sprays or wipes according to the label instructions.
    • Monitor your symptoms carefully. If your symptoms get worse, call your health care provider immediately.
    • Get rest and stay hydrated.
    • If you have a medical appointment, call the health care provider ahead of time and tell them that you have flu-like symptoms.
    • For medical emergencies, call 911 and notify the dispatch personnel that you have flu-like symptoms.
  • Free, shareable COVID-19 resources also are available from Healthwise, the health information website from which Premier Health provides instructions and education for patients.

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Isolation Vs. Quarantine: Know the Distinction

Isolation is a period of time when a person who has been infected with COVID-19 should remain isolated to prevent further spread of the infection. Anyone who has a need to interact with someone in isolation should wear appropriate protective equipment and try to keep contact to a minimum. Your doctor will tell you how long you need to remain isolated.

Quarantine is a period of time when individuals should stay home and away from others because they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

You do not need to quarantine after you’ve isolated. Once you are no longer contagious with COVID-19, you are safe to move about your home without risk of sharing the infection with others.

Learn more about isolation and quarantine.

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Important Contact Information

Atrium Medical Center

Patient Information: (513) 974-4530(513) 974-4530
Emergency Department: (513) 974-5017(513) 974-5017
Preparing for Discharge: (513) 974-5259(513) 974-5259
Spiritual Care: (513) 974-5185 (513) 974-5185

Miami Valley Hospital

Patient Information: (937) 208-2048(937) 208-2048
Emergency Department: (937) 208-8775(937) 208-8775
Preparing for Discharge: (937) 208-2251(937) 208-2251
Spiritual Care: (937) 208-3215 (937) 208-3215

Miami Valley Hospital North Campus

Patient Information: (937) 208-8000(937) 208-8000
Emergency Department: (937) 734-9501(937) 734-9501
Preparing for Discharge: (937) 208-2251(937) 208-2251
Spiritual Care: (937) 208-3215 (937) 208-3215

Miami Valley Hospital South Campus

Patient Information: (937) 208-8000(937) 208-8000
Emergency Department: (937) 438-2205(937) 438-2205
Preparing for Discharge: (937) 208-2251(937) 208-2251
Spiritual Care: (937) 208-3215 (937) 208-3215

Upper Valley Medical Center

Patient Information: (937) 440-4717(937) 440-4717
Emergency Department: (937) 440-4774(937) 440-4774
Preparing for Discharge: Monday - Friday, (937) 440-4077(937) 440-4077; Saturday, Sunday, holidays, (937) 440-4276(937) 440-4276
Spiritual Care: (937) 440-7575(937) 440-7575

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