Home » COVID-19 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness Information

Our hospital is committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients, employees, providers, volunteers and visitors. We are continuing to monitor the evolving situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and are taking the necessary steps to ensure we are fully prepared to care for patients, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in partnership with our local and state health departments.


COVID-19 Online Risk Assessment

To help support the health of our community, we are providing access to an online COVID-19 risk assessment developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This tool does NOT provide a diagnosis, and it should NOT be used as a substitute for an assessment made by a healthcare provider.


 

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Watertown Regional Medical Center is currently in Phase 1A of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This means we are vaccinating healthcare workers and long-term care employees and residents. For more information about the phased approach to distributing the COVID-19 vaccine and for answers to frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, Click here to learn more.

Updated Visitor Restrictions

We are currently allowing outpatients to bring one healthy support person/visitor with them to their clinic visit and urgent care, emergency, radiology, lab and therapy appointments.

  • Support person/visitor must be 18 years of age or older
  • Everyone entering the hospital will be screened for symptoms consistent with COVID-19
  • Visitors who pass the screening will receive a sticker to be worn throughout the duration of their visit
  • Visitors who do not pass the screening at entry will be asked to reschedule their visit until they are symptom-free
  • Visitors are NOT allowed for high-risk, isolation, immunocompromised or respiratory patients who are under observation or test positive for COVID-19.

Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain a safe environment for our patients and team.

Screening Guidelines & Limited Entry Points

All patients and visitors entering our hospital and attached facilities should come through the Main entrance, Emergency entrance,  Medical Office Building (MOB) West entrance or Medical Office Building (MOB) East entrance.  All other entry points will be closed until further notice.

These increased safety measures do NOT mean that you cannot access the hospital or your providers. Please seek medical care as needed. If you are concerned that you may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, call your provider for guidance before visiting his or her office.
 

Testing - Frequently Asked Questions

What are my current testing options?

  • Drive-up testing. If you wish to use our convenient drive-up service, please call your primary care provider or the public health department where you live to get an order. The doctor/public health will send us the order and we will contact you to schedule a time for the test. Our drive-up is open (7 days/week, 10 am to 8 pm).
  • Urgent Care. We offer convenient Urgent Care services to aid our communities. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, our Urgent Care is here to help!
  • Emergency Care. Our 24/7 Emergency Department is staffed with experts to care for our community. This includes care for COVID-19 and COVID-19 like symptoms.
  • Primary Care. If you have questions about COVID-19 symptoms or whether or not you should be tested, contact your Primary Care provider. If you don’t have a provider, you can find one by calling 920.262.4298 or visiting www.watertownregional.com/find-a-provider.

Do you do antibody testing?
No, not at this time. This may change in the future.

Where do I find the results of my test?
Contact the provider that ordered the test. This could be Watertown Public Health, your prmiary care or specialty provider, Urgent Care or the Emergency Department.


Community Testing Information

If you're looking for community-wide testing, including asymptomatic testing, there are testing sites open throughout Wisconsin. Go to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website for more information or to find a site near you.

Each site may have different requirements. Some sites may ask you to stay in your car. Other sites will screen you before you come indoors. Many sites will require an appointment before you arrive in order to ensure they’ve collected your contact and insurance information. Click here for a multi-county community testing flyer.

Dodge County

Dane County

Waukesha County

Appointments, Procedures and Surgeries

We are open for a majority of appointments, procedures and surgeries. If you need to schedule an appointment, please call 920.262.4298 or reach out to your primary care provider. If you don't have a primary care provider, please visit our "Find a Provider" page to find one that will work for your needs.
 

Telehealth Visits

Patients can request a telehealth visit by calling their provider’s office, just as they would for an in-person visit. Your provider will determine if a telehealth visit is appropriate based on your health condition and type of appointment .

If deemed clinically appropriate, you will be given an appointment time and instructions for the best way to connect given the available platforms. Then, instead of coming to the office, you will be asked to call back at the scheduled time and be “checked in” by a nurse or office manager, and then transferred to the provider.

Available platforms include:

  • Telephonic - a patient phone call with a provider
  • Televideo - a virtual, face-to-face visit with a provider using a video conferencing service. These visits may not be available in all cases and will be evaluated based on a patient’s specific needs

3 ways to Help Stay COVID-Free

There's no debating, COVID-19 is in Watertown, the surrounding communities and Dodge and Jefferson counties. To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and lessen the burden on local hospitals, including Watertown Regional Medical Center, we're asking you to take the following pledge.

I promise to...

  • Wash my hands. This should be done frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, clean your hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Practice social distancing. Stay a safe distance - at least six feet apart - from others not in your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Six feet apart is about two arms' length.
  • Wear a face mask. A face mask or cloth face covering that covers your nose and mouth should be worn in public spaces, even if you don't feel sick. Face masks and cloth face coverings can help protect others and prevent both asymptomatic and symptomatic spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.


Masks & Cloth Face Coverings

The CDC recommends all people 2 years of age and older wear a mask or cloth face covering in public settings and when around people who don't live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. Cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings.

Visit the CDC website for helpful tools, including:

What to do if you are sick

It is important to help protect the other people in your home and community if you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have it.

Follow the steps below:

  • Stay home except to get medical care
  • Seperate yourself from others in your home
  • Call ahead before visiting your doctor
  • Wear a facemask
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with elbow or tissue
  • Wash your hands often
  • Avoid sharing personal household items
  • Clean all high-touch surfaces everyday
  • Monitor your symptoms


Resources


Articles & Helpful Tips