PARIS, TN – Henry County Medical Center is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19 and the response in the organization.

Over the weekend, HCMC had its first positive case in Henry County. To date, HCMC has two positive results, one from Henry County and one from another county as well as one patient from another county in the hospital. As of this morning, March 31, HCMC had collected 98 tests that have been sent off to various laboratories for results.

To keep our community informed of our statistics, HCMC has developed its own chart similar to the TN Department of Health chart that will report all this information on a daily basis on our website. The information will be based on HCMC information and will not include any tests collected at other facilities, provider offices, or the health department. Information will include the county of origin, the positive and negatives, total tests, hospitalizations, and deaths. The goal will be to update this chart daily by 5 p.m. Because of HIPAA laws, we cannot disclose certain information about patients and testing, but this chart can provide you an overall snapshot of what is happening at HCMC.

Additionally, HCMC is working with the City of Paris and the County of Henry governments, the Henry County Health Department, the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, the Paris Police Department, and Henry County EMA to ensure that the community entities are working together to keep our community health. To assist those who have been tested with COVID-19 and are self-quarantined at home, Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew has created a Sheriff’s Dept. Help Team. This team will provide support with medications, meals, and other needed errands to persons who do not have other means for support for assistance. This will include those who are following self-quarantine guidelines. Sheriff’s Dept. School Resource Officers will limit contact with persons as much as possible and persons are asked to call 731-644-8337 to leave a message for assistance and a call will be returned to you as soon as possible.

Again, if you believe you meet the criteria for the coronavirus including having the symptoms, traveling outside the United States or in the domestic hot spots associated with COVID – 19, or being in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please call your primary care provider to arrange for medical evaluation and testing. If you present to our Emergency Department without a provider order for testing, you will be registered as an ER patient and be treated and charged as an ER patient, as well as masked and isolated. If you have an order for testing from your provider, you will be instructed to park in the ER parking lot and a clinical staff member will come out and do the testing through our outpatient lab services.

If patients present to our Emergency Department who are suspect, they are masked and then asked to sit in a designated area away from all other patients in the Emergency Department. They are not in the main waiting room of the Emergency Department.

Additionally, the Henry County Health Department is offering drive up assessments in its parking lot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday. You can call ahead for an over-the-pone pre-assessment to determine your eligibility. If you receive a test, you must be prepared to self-quarantine for up to 14 days per CDC guidelines.

At HCMC, we are utilizing several different labs for our tests and each lab has different requirements related to testing and how it is done. Because of the shortage of available collection supplies, the state lab, along with some other labs including LabCorp, which is the HCMC primary reference lab, accept either a nasopharyngeal swab (nose swab) or an oropharyngeal swab (throat swab). So, if you do not receive a nose swab, you are still being tested properly based on the protocols of the lab we are using.

Lastly, HCMC has one additional cancellation to announce regarding classes and education at HCMC. The Bright Beginnings Childbirth Classes set for Saturday, April 11 are now cancelled.

How you can help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses such as Coronavirus:

Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then discard in a trash.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

HCMC is making every effort to educate and inform the public on ways to remain healthy through our website and our social media outlets, including specifically rigorous and frequent hand washing. Please check back often for updates including a section dedicated to COVID-19. For additional information, watch a video from our Community Pop Up event on coronavirus here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-iA5IPc4G8&t=3s

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your health care provider. To learn more, go to our website at www.hcmc-tn.org or go to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Additionally, HCMC owns and operates 7 provider clinics in various specialties. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.