Winneshiek Medical Center leaders agree: "Everything has changed"

Three people from Winneshiek Medical Center sat down with members of the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon to discuss the changes brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Radtke, Operations Director David Rooney, and Dr. Andy Goodner have been involved in the response to COVID-19 since the first days of March.  "Everything has changed (since then)," Dr. Goodner told the Chamber members.  For instance, doctors do much more prescreening of patients before they arrive at the hospital or clinic, use of waiting rooms at the facilities has been restricted, and there is now a dedicated clinic set up in the hospital to take care of patients with respiratory symptoms.

Rooney says the medical center has gotten a better handle on the amount of personal protective equipment it has thanks to several staffers counting the items by hand.

While hospital officials think they have a better handle on the COVID-19 epidemic, they're worried about signs they've seen that the public is wearing masks less and taking fewer precautions against the spread of the virus.

Says Dr. Goodner, "I know that people want a normal summer, but it's not a normal summer."