COVID-19 Historical Updates

UPDATE March 24, 2020:
Visitors are only allowed for critical, emergent or urgent patients only. This is determined on a case-by-case basis. Five minutes in the facility is permitted and then visitors will wait in their car or at home.

Fairfield Medical Diagnostic Services at Millersport
Temporarily reducing the hours of operation in response to COVID-19 outbreak: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1p.m.
12135 Lancaster St.
Northeast Millersport, Ohio 43046
740-467-3533

Donating Supplies:

Fairfield Medical Center is accepting the following donations of unopened (sealed) medical supplies:

– Masks – N-95 masks, surgical masks, masks with face shields
– Eyewear – goggles
– Gowns
– Surgical gloves or nitrile exam gloves
– Hand Sanitizer (greater than 60% alcohol) and Sanitizer wipes (Clorox)

Please contact Jennifer Dicken at 740-687-8472 or email jenniferd@fmchealth.org.

In addition, the Fairfield Medical Center Foundation is accepting homemade mask and gown donations. Please contact the Foundation at fmcfoundation2@fmchealth.org or 740-687-8107.

UPDATE March 23, 2020:
FMC Outpatient Laboratories & Diagnostic Locations: Fairfield Medical Diagnostic and Laboratory Services at main campus 401 N. Ewing St. is temporarily closed. All outpatient diagnostic and laboratory services are to be directed to 1159 N. Main Street or River Valley Campus at 2384 N. Memorial Drive in Lancaster.

Kroger Pharmacy: Customers are permitted to access the pharmacy that is located on main campus. Customers may be screened before entry to comply with visitation restrictions. The team at the pharmacy will help ensure all community members are able to fill their prescriptions in the event that they are unable to enter. If pharmacy customers have any questions or concerns, they may contact 740-654-1019.

Visitor Restrictions are in effect beginning Friday, March 20 at 2:30 p.m.: NO visitation at Fairfield Medical Center main campus location is permitted.

Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for:
• Maternity unit – maternity patients are allowed only one identified support person in the facility. This person will have an identification band readily visible for staff to check. This person will not change during the patient’s stay.
• Children under 18-years-old admitted to the hospital are allowed two caregivers
• Patients receiving end-of-life care

For those exceptions, only one visitor per patient will be allowed, and they must be:
• 18 or older
• Either immediate family members, powers of attorney, guardians or patient representatives
• Healthy with no symptoms of illness, including cough, cold or fever

Please call 740-243-1099 to learn more about visitation exceptions. Everyone will have their temperature checked upon arrival at any Fairfield Medical facility.

Thank you for your cooperation during this time. For additional information regarding COVID-19, call 740-687-8818 or contact the Ohio Department of Health call center at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

UPDATE March 19, 2020:
No Visitation is Permitted at Fairfield Medical Center: Though, there has been no confirmed case of COVID-19 at Fairfield Medical Center, there are additional precautions in place to ensure the safety of patients, visitors and staff. Beginning Friday, March 20 at 2:30 p.m.: NO visitation at Fairfield Medical Center main campus location is permitted. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis and you can learn more about those exceptions by clicking here.

Temperature Screenings: Beginning Friday, March 20 at 2:30 p.m., everyone entering a Fairfield Medical Center facility will have their temperature checked upon arrival.

FMC Call Center: Beginning Friday, March 20 at 2:30 p.m., Fairfield Medical Center’s COVID-19 call center will be available to answer the community’s questions regarding coronavirus protection, preparation and precautions. The call center is staffed with medical professionals in order to provide accurate, up-to-date information, and can be reached 24/7 by calling 740-687-8818.

FMC Business Office is no longer accepting walk-ins: If you are dropping off a payment or HCAP application, please place them in the FMC Business Office white lock box located at the curb in front of the offices next door. You may still access our online payment system by clicking here or mail your payment/application to us through USPS. If you wish to speak to a Customer Service Representative, please call 740-687-8025 between the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Fairfield Medical Center Central Business Office
1149 E. Main St.
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Read what Fairfield Medical Center infectious disease physician Dr. Andrew Dagg-Murry has to say about COVID-19 symptoms.

UPDATE March 18, 2020:
Elective Procedures Postponed: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared that all non-essential surgeries and procedures that utilize personal protective equipment to be postponed, effective at the close of business on Wednesday, March 18. This has been done to protect patients and families, preserve critically short supplies of personal protective equipment and preserve inpatient bed capacity and other equipment for critically ill patients. Please contact your healthcare provider with any questions and we appreciate your understanding during this time. 

Cafeteria Closure to Public: The cafeteria at the main campus location is closed to all visitors. Vending machines or local delivery is available.

Visitation Requirements at Outpatient Clinics and main campus location:

• REMINDER: Effective March 17, 2020, all visitors need are required to use the main and emergency room entrance at the main campus location, which is located at 401 N. Ewing St. in Lancaster.

• Maternity patients are allowed only one identified support person in the facility. This person will have an identification band readily visible for staff to check. This person will not change during the patient’s stay.

• Cancer Care and Infusion Center patients are allowed only one caregiver per patient.

•  The Cardiac Rehab Gym at 401 N. Ewing St. is only accessible to current patients of FMC’s Cardiopulmonary Rehab Program.

UPDATE March 16, 2020:
Visitation: Effective Tuesday, March 17, all visitors are to utilize the North and South entrances at the main campus location. The Fairfield Medical Center main campus location is recognizing standard flu visitation restrictions. Though, there has been no confirmed case of COVID-19 at Fairfield Medical Center, there are additional precautions in place to ensure the safety of patients, visitors and staff. In the event of a suspected or confirmed patient with COVID-19, visitation is restricted to that patient. Compassionate exceptions may be made by contacting the House Supervisor.

Outpatient Clinics & Urgent Care: In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, no visitors are permitted in the exam room(s) of our outpatient and urgent care clinics. We do offer exceptions to a legal guardian or caregiver of patients.

COVID-19 Testing is not available at our Outpatient or Diagnostic Testing locations. If your healthcare provider has given you a written or electronic outpatient COVID-19 testing order, please follow the following steps in order to reduce exposure:

• Please wear a mask, which should be given to you by your provider.

• Once you and your healthcare provider select one of the testing locations, your provider will notify that facility of your planned arrival.

• Please remain in your car upon arrival to the testing facility.

• Call the phone number of the location and notify them that you are in the parking lot. Please note: they may ask for the model of your vehicle to assist with locating and identifying you in the parking lot.

• A healthcare staff member will come to your vehicle to begin the screening process.

Per the Governor’s Office, the Robert K Fox Family YMCA will be closing the River Valley Campus YMCA gym. Due to these unfortunate circumstances, we will freeze all YMCA memberships effective April 1st, until further notice.

We will continue to post updates on Facebook, our Website, and emails lists.

For over 60 years, the Robert K. Fox Family YMCA has been committed to serving our community. We are truly grateful and appreciative for all of your support.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families during these tough times. We will get through this together.

Howard W. Long
Chief Executive Officer Robert K. Fox Family YMCA

UPDATE: March 11, 2020:

Communities around central Ohio are cancelling events and taking additional precautions to reduce the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Fairfield Medical Center’s highest priority is the safety of our community and staff, and as the healthcare leader in the region, it is our duty to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.

In accordance with the recommendation of Mike DeWine, the Governor of Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Health, Fairfield Medical Center will be cancelling our public gatherings and social events scheduled for the coming weeks, which includes Explore Healthcare (March 13) and the FMC Foundation Brews & Basketball (March 27). Please contact the FMC Foundation team at 740-687-8107 if you interested in learning more about tax deductible donations and ticket refunds.