Laboring patients with known previous/active COVID-19 infection (CDC):
Transmission-based precautions may be discontinued when the following criteria are met:
- At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
- Improvement in respiratory symptoms and,
- At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Process
All Obstetrical patients requiring monoclonal antibodies must be scheduled through the Scheduling Department at 924-8391 (department hours are 7:30 AM-5:30 PM M-F). Infusions will be scheduled Tuesdays-Saturdays at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM. Patients receiving infusions should enter through the Assessment Center and let the screeners know they are there for an infusion. The process should take approximately 3-4 hours.
Scheduling Guidelines
When scheduling a patient for monoclonal antibodies, the following information is required:
- Patient’s gestational age in weeks
- At least one approved risk factor:
- Body mass index greater than or equal to 35 kg/m2
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Immunocompromising condition
- Currently receiving immunosuppressive therapy
- Hypertension or cardiovascular disease
- Reactive airway disease/asthma/COPD
Call the HRU Charge Nurse (231-4520) for approval of any additional patients. If further assistance is needed please call Davina Phillips, HRU Nurse Manager (924-8661) or Amye Reeves, Director of Obstetrics (924-8673).
Patients who are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 disease, have higher perioperative morbidity and mortality. Unexpected progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiac injury, kidney failure, and even death have been observed in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the perioperative period. As a result, a robust screening and testing program to detect SARS-CoV-2 preoperatively is preferred for the safety of our patients.
Pre-op COVID-19 antigen testing is recommended within 4 days of a scheduled non-obstetrical procedure with documented results available to the Woman’s Hospital perioperative staff on the business day before the procedure. Documented results are acceptable from any testing facility. The procedure may proceed after 10 days from the positive test if the patient has no symptoms or greatly improved symptoms, no fever, and no fever-reducing medications used in the previous 3 days before the scheduled procedure. Any patient who has tested positive for the COVID-19 antigen in the previous 60 days before a planned procedure does not need to be retested during this 60-day interval.
COVID-19 screening will be performed by the perioperative staff with appropriate questioning and temperature checks on all pre-operative surgery patients. A positive screening will be considered as an indication of possible current infection with the recommendation of procedure postponement for at least 10 days. Postponement decisions will be made in consultation with the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and/or Chiefs of Surgery and Gynecology.
The procedure for obtaining a pre-op COVID-19 antigen test at Woman’s Hospital is as follows:
- All pre-op surgical/procedure patients may obtain testing through Pre-Admit/Pre-Surgery Center.
- The order for the test will be made under the surgeon’s name if not already ordered by that surgeon unless other testing plans are communicated to the Pre-Admit/Pre-Surgery Center representatives.
- Naso-pharyngeal PCR swab tests will be performed at the Woman’s Hospital laboratory Monday-Friday. The sample must be in the laboratory by 10:00 am to be processed with that day’s testing runs.
Woman’s Hospital:
- Assessment Center: M-F, beginning at 8am, by appointment only
- Contact Woman’s Lab for assistance 225-924-8283
- Step 1: Enter patient order through EMR or fax to 225-928-8859; include patient contact information.
- Step 2: Woman’s scheduling will call your patient to book an appointment.
- Step 3: Results will be sent to physicians to communicate to patients.
- For patients who present to our Assessment Center with COVID-19 symptoms, but are well enough to not require hospitalization, we will test them and send them home with a plan to contact them and you with their results.
Community Testing Site: Due to the increase in COVID-19 positive patients in the Assessment Center, it may be wise, and more convenient, to consider referring your patients to a community testing site to limit their exposure risks.
Today and always, our mission is to improve the health of women and infants. We are continuously taking extra steps to keep you safe so you can get the care you need.
- Masks required for all patients, visitors and employees.
- Screening required at all hospital entrances upon every entry.
- Visitors who fail COVID-19 screenings are not allowed to enter.
Visitation rules
OB Patients
- 2 adult support persons at all times during labor and at delivery
- 2 adult support persons for C-sections
- 1 adult support person at all times for persons on the High Risk Unit, Adult ICU, and Mother/Baby floor
Surgical/Medical/Oncology Patients
- 1 adult support persons at all times while in surgery and recovery
NICU
All support persons must be 18 years of age or older and will be required to wear a mask. Patients are asked to contact their physician’s office for policies about visitation at doctor visits.
Visit womans.org/conoravirus for the most updated information on COVID-19 policies and visitation updates.
Your best protection from COVID-19 is a combination of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands often. Woman’s Hospital is partnering with The Baton Rouge Clinic to distribute COVID-19 vaccinations. Vaccinations will take place at The Baton Rouge Clinic Immunization Clinic.
We will communicate as more information becomes available on boosters or further rounds of the COVID-19 vaccine being offered at Woman’s Hospital.
Woman’s has many resources available for patients with questions about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Woman’s Hospital website
COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A Physician Panel
Featuring Drs. Cliff Moore, Jenna Bourgeois, Rosalyn Slaughter and Neil Chappell