COVID-19

Safety is Piedmont Augusta’s top priority. For this reason, all employees, physicians and contractors are required to wear masks, wash their hands and watch their distance to the extent reasonably compatible with their job duties when in public areas of Piedmont Augusta facilities. This requirement includes all public hallways and when passing through any exterior entrance/exit to a Piedmont Augusta facility.  Wearing a mask is not required while eating or drinking in the dining areas. Also, the following is required:

  • Masking all patients and visitors, including outpatients and those admitted to the hospital. Visitors should bring their own masks (If they do not have a mask, one will be provided).
  • Regularly disinfect all surfaces per CDC recommendations.
  • Constantly monitoring agency guidelines, recommendations and best practices for safe health care delivery and a safe workplace.
  • Any employees outside of patient care areas must wear a mask (hospital-grade mask).
  • Employees must wear a hospital-grade mask when interacting with patients.

Our New Normal is Safer Than Ever

Fulfilling our mission to improve the health of those we serve, Piedmont Augusta has established a safe process of diagnosing, testing and caring for COVID-19 patients. This includes a heightened isolation process so we can also get back to caring for the routine and emergent health needs of the larger patient population.

On May 1, we began a controlled Phase 1 return to performing elective procedures, and the process has gone safely and smoothly. On or before June 1, we will make a full return to all procedures. With very few exceptions, all Piedmont Augusta Primary Care and Specialty physician practices have returned to in-office visits. Many physicians now offer telephone or video visits. Still, in many instances, physicians or their medical practitioners need to see patients to properly maintain an appropriate level of care. Learn more about our Safe-Care Plan here.

COVID-19 Testing Cost

Piedmont Augusta's cash price for the COVID-19 test is $100 and is 100% covered by insurance.

Phoning in-patients from outside the hospital

For rooms on Floors 3-9: Add "3" in front of the room number for a private room and for the first bed in a semi-private room (for example, Room 409 = 4-3409 for internal calls and 774-3409 for external calls). Add "4" in front of the room number for the second bed in a semi-private room (for example, Room 409 = 4-4409 for internal calls or 774.4409 for external calls).

For rooms on the 10th floor: Drop the initial "1" in the room number and add "3" for a private room and the first bed in a semi-private room (for example, Room 1031 = 4-3031 for internal calls and 774.3031 for external calls). Drop the initial "1" and add "4" for the second bed in a semi-private room (for example, Room 1031 = 4-4031 for internal calls and 774.4031 for external calls).

For rooms in the Heart & Vascular Institute: Add "83" in front of the room number for internal calls (for example, Room 306 = 8-3306) and add "288-3" in front of the room number for external calls (for example, Room 306 = 288.3306).

Triage Line

Patients concerned about COVID-19 symptoms can call Piedmont Augusta's COVID-19 Triage and Education Line - 706.828.2477 - 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers will be triaged based on their symptoms for follow-up at the appropriate level of care.

 

About COVID-19

image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Piedmont Augusta cannot stress enough, that the most important protection from COVID-19, the much more common influenza, cold or any other respiratory illness is to wash your hands frequently and refrain from touching your face. Should anyone experience respiratory symptoms and a fever, and believe they could have been in close contact with someone who has traveled to a COVID-19 affected area, the best thing to do is first call a primary care physician, urgent care center or emergency department so they can first be pre-screened and advised over the phone so caregivers can be best prepared to care for them when they arrive at a care facility. 

Learn more at www.universityhealth.org/cdc/ 

  • No visitors will be allowed with patients who have been diagnosed with or are under suspicion of having COVID-19.

PLEASE NOTE: Patients scheduled for outpatient procedures should enter the facility through the Outpatient Center or the HVI, depending on the procedure they are having.