Carle wants to keep you informed of rapidly changing guidance and encourages people to use the Carle COVID-19 hotline at (217) 902-6100 to have your COVID-19 questions answered.

How are Carle and the region prepared for the virus that causes COVID-19?

Carle constantly works to be as prepared as possible. While scenarios are always unique, it is our obligation as a regional health system and Level I Trauma Center to work every day to be ready for whatever our community needs.

Carle continually conducts education and drills to be prepared for these types of public health emergencies. We remain in close contact with our region’s healthcare partners and work together to ensure we have information and supplies.

What should I do if I suspect I have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19?

Use our online assessment tool or call our COVID-19 hotline at (217) 902-6100. 

Seek medical care right away, if you have:

• A dry cough, difficulty breathing or two or more of the following symptoms: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell
• Been around someone suspected of having or confirmed to have COVID-19

Use our online screening tool to help assess and recommend any necessary action. The tool asks a series of questions to determine your risk and provides guidance on how, where or if you should seek care.

Should you have additional questions, we ask you to call your healthcare provider or facility prior to arrival. You may also call our Carle COVID-19 hotline at (217) 902-6100.

Call ahead to your medical care provider so they can properly prepare for your arrival.

SCREENING

Our organization has plans in place to assess patients virtually before they enter a healthcare facility.

• Patient and approved visitor screening including a temperature check at all public entrances.
• Everyone (patients, visitors and staff) must be masked on entry. Those without a mask will be provided one.
• Carle can assess your symptoms over the phone and direct you to the appropriate location.
• Patients may use our online COVID-19 screening tool at carle.org. A smart form will guide patients through a series of questions to assess their symptoms and risk and provide guidance on how, where or if a patient should seek care.
• Patients may call the Carle COVID-19 hotline at (217) 902-6100.

TESTING

It remains Carle’s top priority to best care for our community by promptly identifying the COVID-19 virus while minimizing exposure to others.

• If think you have COVID-19, contact the COVID hotline to share your symptoms and direction for seeking appropriate care and testing as needed.
• A positive test for a mildly ill, otherwise healthy person will not change how your doctor will care for you but will protect others.
• Like other healthcare organizations, Carle has opened a designated a testing COVID-19 site for approved patients and your provider will offer direction.
• Pediatric testing: please review the pediatric testing resource to help you prepare your child for their COVID-19 test.
• In order to get patients their test results as quickly as possible, Carle will release a negative COVID-19 result automatically through MyCarle shortly after the results are available to their providers. In most cases, this is 24-48 hours. A text or email prompts the patient to login to view results. If a patient doesn’t have MyCarle, they receive a mailed letter. If a patient tests positive for COVID-19, the appropriate public health department will contact the patient directly.

SURGERY

Following state guidelines, Carle will resume performing elective surgeries and procedures beginning Monday, May 11. 

Can you explain how Carle is going to prioritize elective procedures as patients begin to once again seek care, unrelated to COVID-19? As always, Carle providers and practice offices are managing their respective patients’ care and scheduling based on clinical prioritization. Patients with a previously scheduled procedure can expect a call from their provider’s office to confirm or reschedule.

How are providers going to manage the backlog of postponed appointments, procedures and surgeries? Our providers are gearing up to resume operations by reviewing all patient needs and scheduling based on those needs. We have taken numerous steps to ensure access can be provided including running extended hours at some locations, extending virtual options and even adding a drive-through blood-draw options.

• Elective surgeries will begin May 11
  • Carle Foundation Hospital Operating Room and the Ambulatory Surgery Center in Champaign will be open 6 days a week through May. 
  • The Ambulatory Surgery Center in Danville will be open Monday - Friday. 
• Radiology is scheduling now.
• We’re offering a drive-through lab at Carle Urbana on Windsor, 1818 E. Windsor Rd. to draw blood for adults only.
• Carle Labs are open within our facilities for needs that go beyond blood draws. 

How will patients be notified about the status of their elective appointment or procedure? Providers are going through their records of all previously scheduled appointments and procedures, and staff will be proactively contacting their patients to reschedule and confirm any appointments.

What steps is Carle taking to ensure patients are not exposed to COVID-19 when seeking elective procedure care?

• Before a surgery or procedure, all patients scheduled for a procedure will have a COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to your procedure.
  • A negative test is required for all non-emergent procedures.
  • Your provider will give you specific details on how to obtain your COVID test.
• On the day of surgery or procedure, all staff and patients will be provided with PPE and screened for COVID symptoms.
• Drivers will drop off patients and will receive updates via cell phone.
• Support persons will be limited to one per patient for those needing assistance due to medical conditions. For those who must wait on site, waiting rooms will accommodate social distancing.

What is considered a non-emergent case? Non-emergent procedures are based on a patient’s medical condition where the surgery/procedure can be delayed for 30 days or more without causing harm to the patient. 

Will every patient seeking elective care be tested for COVID-19? No. Only those patients undergoing invasive procedures will be tested for COVID prior to their surgery/procedure. Most In-office appointments and procedures do not require a COVID test prior to treatment.

• Even with local testing, we understand that there is local spread of COVID-19 and that this situation will continue to evolve in Champaign County and in the region. 

What are you doing to keep employees safe? Carle has taken many steps to provide the safest environment possible for team members. The most visible is to provide more Personal Protective Equipment or PPE and adjusting processes to accommodate social distancing’s the organization resumes services, additional sanitizing and other precautions will be a strong focus area.

Can I have close family or friends go with me to my appointment, or visit me in the hospital during my stay? Following the same procedures as other hospitals in the region and in the U.S., and at the guidance of public health, visitors are limited. We need to limit the spread of illness and protect our patients and staff so we can care for all who need.

• For Outpatient appointments (Primary Care and Specialty Services) that require a driver for your appointment, we ask that they wait outside of the facility. 
  • Additional family members who need to be involved in your plan of care can be included by phone.
• In rare cases, some patients in need of a support person, such as a child or a person with many limitations, may require a support person who will be permitted. Those are rare exceptions to keep all patients and staff safe.

Will insurance cover the cost of the COVID-19 test I need before my procedure? All COVID-19 tests will be submitted to insurance for payment. If your insurance provider doesn’t cover the cost, you will not be charged.

Will my pre-operative and post-operative visits be in-person or virtual? If they are virtual, are they covered by insurance? When possible, pre-operative and post-operative visits may be held virtually to prevent the spread of germs and reduce contact. Your healthcare provider will assess your specific case and work with you directly to determine which kind of visit is best for you.  We recommend that you contact your health insurance carrier for specifics on your benefit coverage.

I was laid off due to COVID-19, and am concerned I cannot cover out-of-pocket expenses related to a surgery or procedure that is already planned; what should I do? If charges cause a financial hardship or you do not have insurance, consider applying for Carle Financial Assistance (CFAP). If you’re approved for this assistance, you may only be responsible for a portion of the bill or you may not have to pay anything at all. If you are not approved for the program, you will be responsible for paying the bill. You can apply for CFAP by visiting carle.org or calling (888) 71-CARLE.

I live out of the area, but am coming to Carle for my procedure or surgery. Can I be tested for COVID-19 at a healthcare provider near my home that is not a Carle facility? If you live out of the area and wish to get your required COVID-19 test at a location that is not a Carle facility, staff will need one business day to receive your test results.

If your surgery is scheduled on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday and you want to get your COVID-19 test at a non-Carle location, please discuss this with our staff to ensure Carle will receive your test results in time for your surgery.

Due to test results potentially not being available over weekends from non-Carle/Christie testing locations, patients who have a surgery scheduled on Monday will need to have the required COVID-19 test administered at a Carle testing site. This will ensure that we will not need to contact you on Sunday to cancel your surgery.

Will I still have the same provider/surgeon/plan as before? We don’t anticipate any changes in the provider/surgeon performing your procedure/surgery at this time. If there is a change to due to illness or provider availability, you will be notified prior to surgery. 

What if I need surgery, radiology or some other non-routine appointment, but didn’t have it scheduled prior to this disruption; can I get it scheduled now? The diagnostic testing locations are scheduling appointments. Your surgeon or primary care provider’s office will coordinate with these departments to ensure that the testing you need before your surgery/procedure is completed in a timely manner to allow results to be reviewed before you arrive.

I have anxiety, breathing problems, or another issue and I do not want to wear a mask; will I still be treated? Special conditions will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine how best to care for these patients. 

What Hospital entrances are open to the public?

CARLE FOUNDATION HOSPITAL IN URBANA, IL

Patients and support persons may enter at:

Carle Cancer Center

• Entryway Hours: Monday-Friday 5:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. - noon, closed on Sunday.

Outpatient Services (Orchard Street)

• Approved hospital visitors.
• Operating Room (OR) and Digestive Health Institute (DHI) patients should enter through this door.
• Entryway Hours: Daily 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Heart and Vascular Institute

• Cardiology patients and HVI Procedure Center patients.
• Entryway Hours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., 24 hour employee badge access.

 

Deliveries:

• All patient deliveries (food, flowers, etc) will take place at the Outpatient Services entrance (Orchard Street).
• Employee food deliveries will now take place at the Hospital entrance (North Star Café).

Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center in Hoopeston, IL

• Emergency Department Registration

Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, IL

• Main Entrance until 5 p.m.
• Emergency Department

What is Carle's current visitor policy?

For the safety of patients, staff and community, Carle has made the difficult decision to limit visitors and support people in our facilities.

For Outpatient appointments (Primary Care, Family Medicine, Specialty Services, Dermatology, etc.) that require a driver for your appointment, we recommend they wait outside of the facility. If you have additional family members involved in your plan of care, we can include them by phone.

Outpatient procedures (for example, a colonoscopy) may have one support person, but the support person may not accompany patient to a hospital floor if admitted.

During COVID-19, visitors are limited to the following circumstances:

• Patients who are dying very soon can have one immediate family member at their bedside at a time. This person may rotate with another from outside the building. Immediate family includes spouse or partner, parents, siblings and children. For safety of all, grandchildren and in-laws are not permitted.  
• Patients requesting last rites will be connected with pastoral care.
• Major trauma patients going to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) may have one adult support person (a total of two support people may rotate outside the building). 
• Inpatient Rehab patients may have one support person who will receive home-care instructions.  

During COVID-19, visitors in Labor & Delivery are limited to the following circumstances:

• You will be limited to 1 support person for the length of your stay in the hospital
• Support people will be screened prior to entry to the hospital- support persons who are symptomatic will not be allowed on-site
• We will be periodically re-screening support persons for symptoms and temperature on arrival floor- support persons who are symptomatic will not be allowed to remain on-site
• Support persons of suspected or known COVID-19 positive patients will be given additional education on admission
• We ask that the support person bring necessary clothing and items for their stay with them and make arrangements that allow them to remain in the hospital
• The support person will not be able return to the unit if they leave, until mom/baby are discharged home (unless visiting a child in the NICU)
• You will not be able to leave the unit to smoke. If you anticipate this being a concern, we encourage you to reach out for support to quit smoking for this period of time
• Meal trays will be provided from the cafeteria and delivered to the room for support person.

During COVID-19, visitors in NICU are limited to the following circumstances:

• NICU patients will be limited to 2 support persons with one person at a time allowed at the bedside.
• Visiting hours  will be limited to 9am-9pm following hospital guidelines.
• Support people will be screened prior to entry to the hospital- support persons who are symptomatic will not be allowed on-site.
• Additional support persons may be allowed for discharge planning or educational purposes.
• We will be periodically re-screening support persons for symptoms and temperature on arrival floor- support persons who are symptomatic will not be allowed to remain on-site.
• Masks will be provided.
• The support person will not be able to leave the unit - other than for the meal break- until they are prepared to go home for the day. 
• You will not be able to leave the unit to smoke. If you anticipate this to be a concern, we encourage you to reach out for support to quit smoking for this period of time. 
• Meal trays/tickets will continue to be provided from the cafeteria. 

During COVID-19, visitors in Pediatrics are limited to the following circumstances:

• You will be limited to 2 support person for the length of your stay in the hospital. Only 1 at a time may be at bedside.
• Support people will be screened prior to entry to the hospital- support persons who are symptomatic will not be allowed on-site.
• Additional support persons may be allowed for discharge planning or educational purposes.
• We will be periodically re-screening support persons for symptoms and temperature on arrival floor- support persons who are symptomatic will not be allowed to remain on-site
• Support persons of suspected or known COVID positive patients will be given additional education on admission
• We ask that the primary support person bring necessary clothing and items for their stay with them and make arrangements that allow them to remain in the hospital
• The support person will not be able return to the unit if they leave until the next day with another full screening
• You will not be able to leave the unit to smoke. If you anticipate this being a concern, we encourage you to reach out for support to quit smoking for this period of time.
• Meal trays will be provided from the cafeteria and delivered to the room for support person.

A variety of tools can help you stay in touch with your loved ones when you can’t physically be by their side. See our resource guide at carle.org.

Why are you limiting visitors? We have adopted the same procedure as other hospitals in the region and in the U.S. and following guidance of public health.

Why can’t I come in? We need to limit the spread of illness and protect our patients and staff so we can care for all who need.

Why did you let someone else in? There may be circumstances where a patient is in serious need of a support person due to many limitations. There are rare exceptions because we are working to keep our patients and staff safe.

The patient I’m bringing needs a ride. You are welcome to wait in parking lot or garage so you can be as close as possible.

What if I don’t feel well now? Individuals who have dry cough, difficulty breathing or two or more of the following symptoms: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell should call the COVID-19 Hotline at (217) 902-6100 to be assessed. 

Those who call may be encouraged to conduct a virtual visit, call Patient Advisory Nurse or send a message to your provider through MyCarle.

 

What is forward triage and how is it used at Carle? First, for the safety of patients, staff and the community, patient and approved visitor screening including a temperature check is required at all public entrances. Everyone (patients, visitors and staff) must be masked on entry. Those without a mask will be provided one.

Where can I go for more information? Call (217) 902-6100, Carle.org.

How do I access my Health Information records? The Health Information Management main office at Carle at the Fields is currently closed to walk in patient access. Medical Information is available and can be distributed to patients via MyCarle portal, EPIC Care Everywhere, fax, secured email, mail or Fed Ex. Patients will be encouraged to use these methods to obtain medical information. Only in emergent situations will medical information and/or images on CD be delivered face to face. Patients must call (217) 902-6100 to arrange an appointment in this situation.

How can I make an advance directive and add it to my medical record? Refer to the Advance Care Planning guide and email ACP@carle.com or call you doctor’s office to schedule a phone visit with a social worker or advance care planning facilitator. Advance care planning assures your wishes are understood and communicated to healthcare professionals and your loved ones even when you aren't able to speak for yourself.

Are you offering any special staff training in preparation for spread of the virus that causes COVID-19? Caring for a COVID-19 patient requires no additional or special training. Care team members do need to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, gowns, eyewear and a mask. Several types of protective barriers are available.

Staff are routinely informed of rapidly changing guidance on properly identifying and isolating any person seeking care in our facilities with the virus that causes COVID-19 symptoms and travel to affected areas. Quick identification and isolation helps safeguard our patients, staff and the community.

How can the community help? There are a few ways the community can help to address COVID-19. Stay home, give blood if possible, make a donation, or consider making masks for non-clinicians.