COVID-19 FAQs

Please visit our Carle Visitor Policy page. 

Patient and approved visitor symptom screening takes place at all public entrances or check-in desks. Everyone (patients, visitors and staff) must be masked on entry. Those without a mask will be provided one.

Patients preparing for a procedure may be requested to complete a COVID-19 test. 

Patients may call the Carle COVID-19 hotline at (217) 902-6100

Please visit our COVID-19 Community Testing Sites page. 

It’s recommended to immediately isolate from family and friends and stay home if you receive a positive test confirmation. Follow the steps at CDC.gov if you have or suspect you may have COVID-19. Carle does offer treatment options to those who qualify and it may be available to you. Contact your primary care provider soon after a positive test to determine the right next steps based on your needs.

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

Following state guidelines, Carle is performing elective surgeries and procedures. Patients may be asked to complete a COVID-19 test prior to their procedure.

• Before a surgery or procedure, COVID-19 testing is required for all unvaccinated patients 72 hours prior to the planned procedure. A negative test is required for all non-emergent cases.
• You must follow CDC guidance regarding wearing masks and maintaining social distancing once a COVID-19 test has been obtained prior to surgery.
• Your provider will give you specific details on how to obtain your COVID-19 test.
• On the day of your 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-19 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.

Unvaccinated patients scheduled for elective procedures/surgeries are required to complete a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the procedure. Vaccinated patients are not required to complete a pre-procedure COVID-19 test.  Most in-office appointments and procedures do not require a COVID-19 test prior to treatment. 

Please visit the CDC website for the latest guidance on what qualifies as fully vaccinated. 

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 as the organization resumes services, additional sanitizing and other precautions will be a strong focus area.

All Carle Health team members are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and are allowed to complete vaccination during a scheduled shift.

Please refer to our COVID-19 Billing FAQs.

Carle Health has the ability to conduct virtual visits via EPIC MyChart Video Visits. When scheduling your follow-up care we encourage you to discuss the option of virtual visits with your provider. We recommend that you contact your health insurance carrier for specifics on your benefit coverage.

Please refer to our COVID-19 Billing FAQs.

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. Only unvaccinated patients scheduled for elective procedures/surgeries are required to complete a COVID-19 test prior to their procedure. 

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.

Yes, for everyone’s safety, Carle will continue to require masks while on our campuses regardless of vaccination status.

Special conditions will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine how best to care for these patients.

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.

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.