Please get vaccinated for COVID-19
Communities across the country are experiencing an increase in COVID-19 positive cases. Many patients who are being hospitalized have not been vaccinated for COVID-19. We strongly encourage anyone who has not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine to do so. Getting vaccinated is one of the safest and most effective ways to protect yourself and others. Please see our vaccine section for helpful resources and information.
Visitor policy
Effective: 7/14/2021 until further notice
To help reduce the spread of respiratory illness, our visitor policy has been revised. Learn more about our visitor policy.
Learn more about our visitor policyProtect your business and workforce
As HCA Midwest Health continues preparedness efforts to respond to impacts of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) on our facilities and community, we share some of our safety precautions and best practices to help area businesses safeguard their workforces and workplaces.

COVID-19 and Pregnancy An Update for our Patients
We would like to take this opportunity to update you about your maternity care during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and assure you that our dedicated team of expert nurses, physicians and midwives are committed to providing the safest and most effective care.
COVID-19 ASL videos
The CDC has produced a series of videos for the American Sign Language community on COVID-19.
About Coronavirus
With coronavirus (COVID-19), the safety of HCA Midwest Health patients and visitors remains our top priority. We regularly treat patients with infectious diseases and our clinical teams are highly trained in infection prevention protocols. HCA Midwest Health is closely monitoring COVID-19 developments in partnership with our local and state health departments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
What can I do to protect myself and others?
Public health officials recommend the following steps to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often, using either soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel for at least 20 seconds
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Stay up-to-date
For additional information and ongoing updates on COVID-19, please refer to local and state health departments and the CDC’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) hub.
Frequently asked questions
- Stay home when you feel sick and avoid close contact with others who are sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth, because this is where viruses can enter.
- Always cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw that tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects.
No, the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in children and adults. However, children with confirmed COVID-19 have generally presented with mild symptoms similar to a cold, including fever, runny nose and cough. Vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported. Based on available evidence, children do not appear to be at any higher risk or more susceptible to COVID-19 than adults. While some children and infants have been sick with COVID-19, infections in children are less common and adults make up most of the known cases to date.
Patients without symptoms or with mild to moderate symptoms will likely not be tested for the virus. A positive test does not change the course of the illness. It’s important to keep in mind that there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill should self- isolate, practice social distancing and care for themselves at home.
You might be tested for COVID-19 if you meet the criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, the CDC advises that clinicians should determine whether to order a test based on specific parameters. COVID-19 tests are not intended to be an assessment of your risk, but rather to confirm cases in symptomatic patients. If you are worried but don’t have symptoms, please stay home. Going to a doctor’s office or hospital adds to a higher concentration of people and further overwhelms the medical staff.
- Every patient, visitor and vendor is screened outside of our primary lobbies, ER entrances and loading docks.
- Points of entry to our facilities have been limited.
- As we often do during heavy influenza outbreaks, visitor restrictions have been instituted in patient care areas.
- We have done, and continue to do, deep cleaning throughout all of our care sites.
- Our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated to coordinate daily communication and response across all of our hospitals.