A Message from Morris Hospital CEO Mark Steadham

March 20, 2020, Morris, IL –   “We want to thank the community for the outreach of support over the past few days. We can’t thank you enough for your cooperation with our restricted visiting and access to our facilities. As you know, the physicians and staff at Morris Hospital have a vitally critical role in the crisis that is facing our nation and community. Your spirit of cooperation helps us maintain a safe environment so we can take care of those who have the greatest need for medical care.

So many of you have been reaching out and asking what the community can do for us. Here is our No. 1 request of you right now: Please make sure you are adhering to the stay at home order that went into effective on Saturday. In other words, if you don’t have to go out, you should stay home. This is THE way to slow the spread of coronavirus. It’s going to take all of us doing our part.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to caution you about fraud schemes related to COVID-19, particularly targeting Medicare beneficiaries. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General urges everyone to be suspicious of any unexpected calls or visitors offering COVID-19 tests or supplies, and that you should ignore offers or advertisements for COVID-19 testing. You should only take direction from your usual trusted healthcare resources.

At this time, we anticipate that the postponement of elective surgeries, elective invasive procedures, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and our sleep disorder center will continue until at least April 30 – the same date the State of Illinois order is set to last through. We continue to evaluate and make decisions regarding specific services on a daily basis. Impacted patients will always be called. Our physician offices and Immediate Care/Convenient Care locations remain open and have come up with some creative solutions — including appointments by phone if needed — as anyone experiencing fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, or runny nose is not permitted into these locations for the safety of others.

Our community continues to do a great job following the advice regarding “what to do if you’re sick,” and we are so appreciative. As you have heard the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health say over and over, it’s very important that anyone with minor illness stay home instead of coming to a medical facility, physician office, or hospital emergency room. Hospital emergency rooms are reserved for medical emergencies only at this time. IDPH continues to approve COVID-19 testing for limited patients who meet very specific criteria.

Please continue to check our website for important updates and for quick links to the Centers for Disease website. We will continue to keep you informed.”

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