Frequently Asked Questions

What is Carle's outpatient support person policy?

For outpatient procedures where appropriate social distancing can be maintained, a support person may accompany an adult patient; two support persons for a patient under 18 and one support person for an adult patient with physical or development limitations. There could be times when a support person isn’t allowed due to an inability to provide appropriate social distancing. Please follow departmental instructions provided.

For outpatient appointments (Primary Care, Family Medicine, Specialty Services, Dermatology, Orthopedics, etc.) two support person are allowed for patients under 18 or one support person for an adult patient with physical or development limitations. For adult patients without such limitations, one support person may be allowed where appropriate social distancing can be maintained but we recommend support persons wait outside of the facility when possible. Additional family members involved in a plan of care can be included by phone.

What is Carle's current hospital visitor policy?

For the safety of patients, staff and community, Carle limits visitors and support people in our facilities.

Approved support people entering the hospitals are allowed during the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. You will be limited to one support person for the length of your stay in the hospital. Approved visitors must be free from illness and wear a face covering and will receive a wristband at the door. Carle restricts visitors under 18. (Except in end of life situations or if the visitor is a patient’s parent.) Waiting rooms, except Surgical Services, remain closed and no visitors allowed in semi-private rooms for enhanced safety. 

Note: Carle Richland Memorial Hospital and Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center will not require wristbands/stickers.

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

• The Emergency Department allows one support person per patient. Two support people are allowed during a major trauma event where the Trauma Services team will provide care and for Pediatric patients 24 hours a day.
  
• Inpatient visiting hours for support persons will be 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. at Carle Foundation Hospital.
  
• Medical-Surgical allows one support person for the length of your stay in the hospital.
• Inpatient Rehab allows one support person for the length of your stay in the hospital.
• Intensive Care Unit – two support persons. Only one person bedside. 

Special note: Carle BroMenn Medical Center and Carle Eureka Hospital visiting hours are 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

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

Special note: Carle BroMenn Medical Center: Laboring mothers should enter through Labor & Delivery Entrance after 6:30 p.m.

• You will be limited to one support person for the length of your stay in the hospital.
• 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.
  
  

During COVID-19, visitors in Pediatrics, Intermediate Nursey and the NICU are limited to the following circumstances:

• NICU patients will be limited to two support persons and both are allowed at the bedside.
• Visiting hours will be limited to 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. following hospital guidelines.
• Carle may allow additional support persons for discharge planning or educational purposes.
• 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. 
  

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.

How do you screen for COVID-19 at Carle?

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

• Patient and approved visitor symptom screening takes place 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.

Where can I get tested for COVID-19?

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.

What hospital entrances are open to the public?

CARLE FOUNDATION HOSPITAL IN URBANA, IL

Patients and support persons may enter at:

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

• 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.

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

 Emergency Department

• Patients and their support person only. 24 hours a day.

Deliveries:

• Patient food deliveries are at Outpatient Services entryway (Orchard Street).
• Flowers are excepted except for Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
• Employee food deliveries will now take place at the Hospital entrance (North Star Café).

CARLE BROMENN MEDICAL CENTER IN NORMAL, IL

• Main Entrance (Atrium) 5:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
• Medical Office Building Skywalk 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
• Emergency Department 24 hours a day.

CARLE EUREKA HOSPITAL IN EUREKA, IL

• Main Entrance 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
• Emergency Department 24 hours a day.

Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center in Hoopeston, IL

• Emergency Department Registration 24 hours a day.

Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, IL

• Main Entrance 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
• Emergency Department  24 hours a day.

I’m having surgery at Carle, what do I need to know?

Following state guidelines, Carle is performing elective surgeries and procedures.   

How are providers going to manage the backlog of postponed appointments, procedures and surgeries? Our providers and staff have completed an extensive review and scheduling of patients to significantly decrease the backlog of appointments, procedures and surgeries. All departments have resumed normal business hours and operations and will remain flexible to ensure patient access to care is a high priority.  Please contact your physician’s office with any questions or urgent needs.  Many departments have expanded their access by offering Telehealth visits when appropriate. Please check with your physician’s office to determine if your physician is offering Telehealth visits and if your current care need is appropriate for a Telehealth visit. 

How will patients be notified about the status of their elective appointment or procedure? Providers have gone through their records of all previously scheduled appointments and procedures, and staff will be proactively contacting their patients to reschedule and confirm any appointments. Provider offices will continue to track patients who have chosen to delay their appointment; however, patients are encouraged to contact their physician’s office when they are ready to reschedule or if they are experiencing any changes with their current medical condition.

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.
• You must remain quarantined once COVID test has been obtained prior to surgery. Patients in quarantine can travel outside of their homes for healthcare purposes, but should not go into work or run non-essential errands.
• Your provider will give you specific details on how to obtain your COVID test.
• On the day of surgery or procedure, all staff will be wearing proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). A face covering will be given to patients if they do not bring one to their appointment and patients will be screened for COVID symptoms.
• Surgery or Procedure patients are limited to one visitor, but are encouraged to have drivers drop off patients and receive updates via cell phone.
• Visitors will be directed to the waiting room. Approved support persons assisting patients with medical conditions or who are accompanying pediatric patients will continue to the pre-procedure room as directed by staff. The waiting room accommodates 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.

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.