Current COVID-19 Cases Represent 2% of all Hospitalizations in Northern New Jersey

Press Release 12/7/20, NORTH BERGEN, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center and its dedicated physicians, nurses and staff are safely and effectively providing high-quality, compassionate care.

Given the rampant community spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey, following is an update for patients and physicians on COVID-19 cases at Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center:

• There are currently 1,560 COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Jersey. Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center currently has 35 COVID-19 patients, or 2% of all North Jersey hospitalizations. Two-thirds of the beds are non-COVID-19 cases.
• The infection control team is confident that the COVID-19 cluster, identified the week of November 12, is isolated and has not resulted in any new cases. There are approximately three dozen team members out of 1,265 who are out of work due to either a positive COVID-test or because they were in contact with someone who had COVID. This number fluctuates daily.
• There is no evidence of transmission from team members to patients, or vice versa. Rigorous contact tracing and testing are being conducted daily.
• The hospital continues to be adequately staffed and daily reviews are conducted to safely redeploy team members where care is needed most. Staff from non-emergent health care procedures have been deployed to support COVID-19 efforts.

“In these unprecedented times, it is normal to feel concerned about practicing medicine or seeking in-person care for non-COVID-19 conditions, and we want to assure patients and physicians that their health and safety is our top priority,” said Anthony J. Passannante, Jr., M.D., FACC, President, Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center. “In many cases, delaying care could worsen conditions or lead to more serious treatments and procedures, and we urge patients to get the care they need in close consultation with their doctor’s office.”

In addition, many robust steps have been taken to protect team members and patients, and these measures are continually enhanced to maintain an environment where it is safe to practice medicine and seek in-person care, including:

• Strict adherence to all safety protocols established by the CDC and the New Jersey Department of Health.
• All of our clinical team members are wearing N-95 masks, and properly trained and fit-tested.
• Increased daily COVID-19 testing of team members in any of our units with a greater probability or incidence of confirmed cases. Greater surveillance of team members better enables us to identify those who are asymptomatic but test positive and ensure they rest at home.
• Suspending visitation with hospitalized patients, with exceptions for labor and delivery, end-of-life care, pediatrics and adult patients with special needs.
• All team members must undergo comprehensive screening, including a temperature check, before working at a hospital or patient care locations. If there is an issue, the team member is instructed to report to Occupational Health immediately and not come to work.
• Patients are tested for COVID-19 on admission and we have begun serial testing any patients that stay for more than two days. This is because patients may initially test negative upon entering the hospital but convert to positive over the next few days from illness acquired in the community.
• Team members who test positive are required to self-quarantine at home. Additionally, the network conducts rigorous contact tracing so that if a team member comes in contact with a team member who is positive, they too must self-quarantine as well.
• Intensive cleaning of all facilities including hand-held misters, and UV lighting in all treatment and common areas.
• Continuing to provide universal masking, enforcing its usage and ensuring everyone has the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) by creating an equipment stockpile, including eye protection.