Monument Health assisted living, care centers closed to all visitors

RAPID CITY, S.D. (March 11, 2029) – To protect its residents from exposure to the COVID-19 virus, Monument Health announced that visitors will not be allowed at its Custer Care Center and Assisted Living in Custer and its Sturgis Care Center.

“This is a really difficult decision, because we know how important family is for our residents,” said Conner Fiscarelli, Senior Director of Long Term Care Services at Monument Health. “However, for older people COVID-19 is an especially devastating virus.”

Phone calls or online applications such as Facetime, Hangouts and Skype can be a good alternative to in-person visits. If residents need help arranging access, care center caregivers will be able to assist them.

In addition, Monument Health advises its residents to avoid leaving the care centers or assisted living facility.

Last week, Monument Health announced that it will limit the number of visitors to patients that have potentially infectious conditions. This helps conserve vital personal protection equipment such as masks, gloves and eye protection, which is in short supply worldwide.

At this time, patients whose visitors must wear gowns, face masks or other protective gear, are asked to designate one support person who can visit them. Monument Health will work with families of pediatric patients and those patients with special needs. Other visitors could communicate via video conferencing apps like Facetime or Hangouts rather than in-person visits.

Monument Health takes patient safety seriously, and its goal is to create a calm, quiet environment that promotes healing.

About Monument Health
Headquartered in Rapid City, S.D., Monument Health (formerly Regional Health) is a community-based health care system with a mission to make a difference, every day. The system offers care in 33 medical specialties and serves 20 communities across western South Dakota and in eastern Wyoming. With over 4,500 physicians and caregivers, Monument Health is comprised of 5 hospitals, 8 specialty and surgical centers and more than 40 medical clinics and health care service centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

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CONTACT:
Dan Daly
Communications Specialist
Strategic Marketing and Communications
Monument Health
605-755-9178
ddaly@monument.health