Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital (MDMH) has been closely monitoring the evolving
situation of
COVID-19.
The Hospital's Incident Management Team began meeting before any known
cases in Montana.
According to Alida Merritt, RN, MSN, Infection Control Director for MDMH,
"In response to COVID-19 surge in the State of Washington, and before
the first presumptive positive case in Montana, Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital
held a tabletop meeting to discuss Ravalli County's preparedness for
an infectious disease outbreak. The hospital, Ravalli County Public Health,
and County Board of Health, as well as other MDMH leaders, attended this
session. This was the beginning of a collaborative effort to address
COVID-19 in the state.”
"That tabletop exercise marked the start of what would become a series
of decisions and steps to prepare our community and hospital for the coming
months,” the hospital’s CEO, John Bishop. “Our decisions
are made based on careful assessments of CDC guidelines, community health
needs and usage patterns, and data around the pandemic. These steps are
a part of an ongoing effort to ensure our team remains whole while providing
the appropriate care, at the right time, in the right place."
COVID-19 has forced the government, hospitals, essential workers, businesses,
and citizens around the world to think and behave differently.
Read the entire article here →