The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.
The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”). Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.
Operational Updates within Keystone’s Practices and Programs
– Due to new Department of Health precaution guidelines released on March 22nd, 2020, we are no longer able to provide patient care at any of the Keystone Dental Care locations. We will inform you when this changes. (Effective March 23, 2020)
-Keystone Urgent Care: hours will change to 8 am- 6 pm, daily. (Effective March 23, 2020)
-Keystone Pediatrics- Chambersburg: hours change to 8 am- 5 pm Monday- Friday (this includes the Pediatric Walk In Program), and 8 am- noon on Saturdays. (Effective March 23, 2020)
-At this time, Keystone Community Health Services (111 Chambers Hill Drive, Suite 102) is not accepting walk-in patients. Please call the office at (717) 709-7909 to schedule an appointment. (Effective March 24, 2020)
-Keystone Pediatric Developmental Center (includes pediatric occupational therapy, speech therapy and audiology): Closed indefinitely for the safety of staff and patients. (Effective March 26, 2020)
We ask that patients bring no more than ONE visitor with them to an appointment within any of our practices.
These changes are temporary and are effective until further notice.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold and flu. The most common of these symptoms include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
According to the CDC, symptoms can range from mild to severe, and even life-threatening.
How can I protect myself and others?
The best prevention for COVID-19, the flu and colds, is to practice proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette. Help stop the spread of viruses by:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones and other frequently touched items.
- If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others.
If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fever) and believe you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (coronavirus), please call our office before arriving for care (including coming to our screening tents located at 111 Chambers Hill Drive and 830 Fifth Avenue, Chambersburg). By calling ahead, we can take appropriate measures to limit your exposure to other patients and take you to an exam room immediately upon your arrival. You can call your doctor’s office directly, or dial (717) 709-7900 and select option 1 for a list of all of our practices. Thank you for your help in limiting the spread of COVID-19!
What is Keystone Health doing to prepare?
We are actively monitoring the situation, and we have deployed a COVID-19 readiness team that meets daily to assess the situation. Our practices are prepared to respond when necessary. Everyone is encouraged to do their part by practicing good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene (sneeze and cough into your elbow, not your hands), as well as good cleaning disinfection processes.
We have begun to screen patients for COVID-19 in outdoor tents placed in two locations: 111 Chambers Hill Drive and 830 Fifth Avenue, both in Chambersburg. Patients will be asked a series of questions including those related to presence of respiratory symptoms and fever. If a patient has screened positive for these questions, they will immediately be ushered to an exam room inside the building, away from any other patients and staff, evaluated for their clinical condition, and if necessary will be offered testing for COVID-19, and appropriate treatment for their symptoms.
The COVID-19 screening tent located at 111 Chambers Hill Drive will serve all patients visiting Keystone Urgent Care. All patients of Keystone Urgent Care are instructed to visit the screening tent prior to entering the building. After the short screening portion is completed, patients will either be instructed to use a separate entrance if respiratory symptoms are present, or to go to the normal Urgent Care entrance if no respiratory symptoms are present. The remaining practices located at 111 Chambers Hill Drive (Keystone Community Health Services/Infectious Diseases) will limit seeing patients to those with scheduled, routine appointments until otherwise noted.
The COVID-19 screening tent located at 830 Fifth Avenue will serve all patients visiting Keystone Pediatrics. All patients of Keystone Pediatrics are instructed to visit the tent for screening prior to entering the building. After the short screening portion is completed, patients will either be instructed to use a separate entrance if respiratory symptoms are present, or to go to the normal Pediatrics entrance if no respiratory symptoms are present. The remaining practices located at 830 Fifth Avenue (Keystone Pharmacy, Keystone Women’s Care and Keystone Internal Medicine) will limit seeing patients to those with scheduled, routine appointments until otherwise noted and should enter the building as usual.
The purpose of the outdoor screening tents is to quickly and efficiently identify patients with respiratory symptoms and get them to the appropriate location for appropriate testing and treatment as quickly as possible, thus decreasing the potential exposure to other patients and staff.
We have also placed signs at the entrances of all of our practices, asking patients to immediately tell our staff if they have come in contact with someone known to have tested positive and are experiencing symptoms to promptly wear a mask. We have introduced similar messages into our online scheduling and appointment reminders. In addition, we have placed an alert and information on our main website.
We also ask that patients bring no more than ONE visitor with them to an appointment within any of our practices.
We will continue to evolve our plan as we monitor the situation.
Donations Needed
We have received many messages from community members asking how they can help. We greatly appreciate everyone’s generosity and willingness to contribute! Here is a list of supplies we currently need at Keystone and would greatly appreciate any donations.
Face shields
N95 masks
Isolation gowns
Gloves (even expired gloves)
Alcohol prep pads
Many people have also asked about sewing masks for us. While we are not currently using cloth masks, we will accept cloth mask donations in case we run out of our current supply. Here are our requests for homemade masks:
1. Form fitting at the top over the bridge of the nose, made with items such as a pipe cleaner, twist tie, etc.
2. Leave a piece of the mask unsewn at the bottom for the insertion of a filter
3. Adult and pediatric sizes are appreciated
Here is a video which shows how these masks can be made: Click here for YouTube video
We are accepting donations at our screening tent located at 111 Chambers Hill Drive, Chambersburg. Thank you so much to our generous community members! We appreciate you!
Stay informed
The CDC and Pa. Department of Health are the best resources for up-to-date information regarding COVID-19. For the latest updates visit the CDC Coronavirus webpage and the Pa. Department of Health webpage.
