FRANKFORT, Ky. — The first phase of Kentucky’s initiative to reopen the economy, Healthy at Work, will begin next week with the resuming of select healthcare services. Dr. Steven Stack, the state’s public health commissioner, detailed the plan during Governor Andy Beshear’s daily briefing.
Starting Monday, April 27, they plan to resume non-urgent and emergent healthcare services, diagnostic radiology and laboratory services. These services can be performed in the following settings:
- hospital outpatient
- healthcare clinics and medical offices
- physical therapy, chiropractic, optometry
- dental (with enhanced aerosol protections)
"And it's no mistake that we're doing it in the healthcare area, it's ought to be the area that can respond the fastest to any issues that arise with the coronavirus," Beshear said.
The reopening of these services does not mean business as usual, and telehealth is still preferred over in-person visits. Gov. Beshear stressed that enhanced protective measures need to be taken to ensure safety of staff and patients, saying “your business cannot look the same.”
"If you are envisioning opening whatever you can open in the same way, it's not going to work and ultimately, it's not going to happen," Beshear said.
Some of the guidelines for reopening these services include eliminating traditional waiting areas, not allowing visitors in most cases, screening healthcare workers and patients for COVID-19 symptoms on arrival, improving hygiene and sanitization, and procuring the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). Masks must be worn by staff and patients, and any objects or contact surfaces used for clinical services must be sanitized between patients. Healthcare workers must also wear non-latex gloves.
Healthcare workers are required to wear the surgical or procedural masks, and patients must wear one if they are entering a hospital or surgical center. If you are going to a doctors office, or other healthcare settings, you can wear a cloth mask.
This guidance does not apply to long-term care facilities, prisons, other industries or elective procedures. According to the governor’s office, additional guidance will be provided for those settings later.
As far as dental settings, which have a high risk of exposure to aerosols, Dr. Stack is seeking additional input from professionals on how to ensure safety of staff and patients.
Healthy at Work is a phased approach to reopening the state’s economy. The implementation of each phase is based on criteria set by public health experts. In Phase 2 of the initiative, individual businesses will be evaluated for the ability to safely reopen.
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