Health care providers are making dramatic changes because of COVID-19. Here’s a roundup of changes so far.

Are you a health care provider and have information you want people to know? Send it to news@postindependent.com.

From Rifle to Aspen, all elective surgeries suspended

After Aspen Valley Hospital canceled elective surgeries, Grand River and Valley View soon followed.

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The decision of all three hospitals comes after recommendations from both the United States Surgeon General and the American College of Surgeons as well as the latest information from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment about community spread of COVID-19.

Valley View’s suspension applies to all its facilities.

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“It is an absolute priority to protect the healthcare resources in our community to best prepare to care for the sick. We appreciate the significance of this decision; it was not made lightly,” said Valley View CEO Dr. Brian Murphy said in a news release.

Valley View physicians have begun contacting patients who were scheduled for elective procedures or patient care.

Grand River also suspended elective surgeries and non-essential patient care such as wellness visits and preventative visits. 

“Protecting our healthcare resources in the community to best prepare to care for the sick is our top priority. This was not a decision we made without very careful consideration but it was a necessary step in the fight against the spread of COVID 19 in our communities” says Grand River Health CEO Jim Coombs said in a news release. 

Grand River surgeons’ and physicians began contacting patients on Monday who were scheduled for elective procedures or patient care.

Are you a health care provider and have information you want people to know? Send it to news@postindependent.com.

Mind Springs Health switches to offering virtual services

Mind Spring Health will offer services at all of its locations in a virtual format, the organization announced in a news release Tuesday.

“Mind Springs Health will continue their operations in Pitkin, Garfield, Eagle and Summit Counties in a virtual format so that that we can remain open for business and continue to serve the needs of our clients,” the release states.

All physical offices will not be accepting in-person meetings, but virtual services will begin to be offered at its various locations according to the following schedule:

• Aspen: March 17 at 8 a.m. – 970-920-5555
• Frisco: March 17 at 3 p.m. – 970-668-3478
• Eagle: March 18 at 8 a.m. – 970-328-6969
• Vail: March 18 at 8 a.m. – 970-476-0930
• Glenwood Springs: March 18 at Noon – 970-945-2583

The detox facility in Summit County closed at noon Tuesday and the above offices will continue to operate in a virtual format until March 29. According to the news release, evaluations will be made at the end of March to determine if the offices will begin to see clients in person again. 

Existing clients, and anyone needing mental health services, are encouraged to call their local Mind Springs Office at the numbers above.

Looking for coping skills to help with anxiety surrounding COVID-19?  Visit http://www.MindSpringsHeath.org or http://www.MyStrength.com, using the “payer code” WELLNESSWEB.

Grand River, Valley View adopt additional protective measures

Grand River Hospital is not taking walk-in primary care appointments, and all patients should call 970-625-1100 to schedule an appointment, said Annick Pruett, Grand River community relations director.

Testing for COVID-19 is not available upon request at Grand River — Pruett said patients must meet a very specific set of criteria from the state in order to be eligible. People with questions relating to COVID-19 should call the TriCounty hotline at 970-429-6186. 

They should also pay attention to what their bodies are telling them, Pruett said. If they have symptoms they would normally just stay at home for and not see a doctor, they should do that.

“If they would normally go see a physician, make an appointment to see a physician,” Pruett said. “If they would normally go to the emergency room for severe symptoms or illness, go to the emergency room.”

Grand River has also canceled all meetings and events through the rest of April, regardless of size. Grand River Cafe and Grand River Gifts are closed to the public until further notice.

At Valley View, visitors will not be permitted unless they are visiting a patient. Patients are limited to one visitor at a time. Work is underway to temporarily close the Youth Recovery Center, an inpatient 42-day substance abuse and mental health treatment facility for teens.

The Connie Delaney Medical Library and Calaway Young Cancer Resource Library are also closed. Resources are still available at http://www.vvh.org/delaney-library.