COVID-19: Our CEO's Message

We Are Here for You

As we near the 80th day of the coronavirus health emergency, I’m tremendously proud of our doctors, nurses and other health workers on the front lines caring for patients during this unprecedented time. Our health care team have devoted many hours designing extraordinary safety measures to protect you and our staff, to secure ample protective equipment and to prepare for a surge that, fortunately, has not happened.

I’m eternally grateful for the outpouring of support from our community — from the many generous donations, to the adherence of the shelter-at-home orders and responsible social distancing — which, I believe, has led to significantly lower infection rates and fewer deaths in Solano County than in other parts of the country.

I am pleased to announce we are slowly, carefully resuming necessary surgeries and other procedures that have been delayed during the crisis. We are following guidelines from public health officials at the state and county levels.

If your procedure was delayed, you can expect to hear soon from a member of your doctor’s team to discuss rescheduling.

It’s understandable to worry about exposure to COVID-19 and I want to assure you that NorthBay has gone all-out to implement stringent safety measures. Here are just a few of them:

• Super-cleaning our facilities: We’ve added extra staff to our specially trained disinfecting team to increase the frequency of cleanings and are using advanced disinfecting robotic technology and UV light that rapidly kills viruses and bacteria.
• Ample supply of protective equipment: Our supply chain team has secured an adequate supply of masks, gloves and face shields to meet current and future needs. Their efforts were aided by generous donations from local businesses, dentists and individuals.
• Face coverings are mandatory: You will find everyone — patients, staff and visitors — in our facilities wearing a face covering. Hand sanitizer is provided throughout all of our buildings.
• Restricting visitors at our hospitals and medical offices: A strict no-visitor policy that only allows exceptions on a case-by-case basis reduces traffic through our facilities.
• COVID-19 screening prior to your procedure: All patients undergoing non-emergency surgeries or procedures will receive screening several days prior to their scheduled procedure.
• Dedicated nursing unit: Patients diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19 are cared for in a special nursing unit isolated from others in NorthBay Medical Center.
• Continuing tele-health visits: We continue to schedule video and telephone visits for our medical group patients, as well as in-person care when that is a better option for patients.
• COVID-19 screening at NorthBay Urgent Care: COVID-19 screening and testing is available, in addition to other urgent care services, at our centers in Fairfield and Vacaville.

Most importantly, to those of you who are experiencing serious symptoms like chest pain, abdominal pain or stroke signs: Do not delay seeking care. For many serious conditions, rapid treatment is critical and the consequences of putting off needed medical care are often irreversible.

Your health and safety are our primary concern. To keep up with the latest news about testing, and where to get care for COVID-19. check: NorthBay.org/Coronavirus

We are here for you, as we have been for the last 60 years.

B. Konard Jones
President & CEO