Poinciana Medical Center announces the launch of the HEALTHIER TOMORROWS Initiative. The Initiative is designed to provide an enhanced patient safety experience in the emergency department (ED) and further emphasize Poinciana Medical Center’s enhanced safety precautions, including designated care areas for patients. Visual elements have been added to the ED waiting and care areas which are coordinated with implemented safety measures and protocols, which have been in place to protect patients, visitors and colleagues.

“Our goal is to encourage those who need medical care, to have confidence that our team’s top priority is to ensure a safe experience,” said Chris Cosby, CEO at Poinciana Medical Center. “Comprehensive safety precautions have been in place at Poinciana Medical Center, but our new HEALTHIER TOMORROWS Initiative adds visuals that reinforce these measures to emphasize the extra layer of protections in place for our patients and visitors. Our commitment is to illustrate all of the actions we’ve taken to create a safe environment for everyone who walks through our doors.” 

The HEALTHIER TOMORROWS Initiative promotes Poinciana Medical Center’s four pillars of enhanced safety, which include:

• Access Control – Controlled access points have been established and a health screening will be conducted for those individuals entering the emergency department. Patients with symptoms of respiratory illness or possible exposure are masked and escorted to an appropriate area of the facility, removing the risk of exposure in waiting rooms or common areas. Care givers and clinicians are also screened when entering care facilities.

• Safe Distancing – Patients and visitors are encouraged to help Poinciana Medical Center create healthier tomorrows by following visual cues to safely distance and follow infection prevention best practices such as washing and sanitizing hands.

• Infection Prevention – The hospitals universal masking policy ensure appropriate masks are provided for all who enter care facilities to keep patients, clinicians, caregivers, staff and visitors safe. Poinciana Medical Center uses a rigorous cleaning process and has increased the cleaning frequency of patient rooms as well as public and common areas with disinfectants that are effective in killing the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as other pathogens.

• Designated Care Paths – Suspected and positive COVID patients will be served by dedicated care teams that will remain in the designated Orange Care Path area; visitors will not be permitted in these areas. Patients who come to our facilities for non-COVID related care needs will have access to the Green Care Path waiting area and will be assessed and treated in separate areas and by designated care teams assigned to the Green Care Path.

“In a time when the community has concerns about seeking care, the designated care paths for suspected and positive COVID-19 patients will be served by dedicated care teams and will follow a protocol that keeps all patients and visitors safe. The visuals have been added for patients and their loved ones so they can see for themselves the measures we’ve put into place,” said Ricky Rodriguez, Emergency Department Director. “The Initiative is an essential part of our message to the community – don’t delay care and we are here for you today, for a healthier tomorrow.”

Poinciana Medical Center, a 76-bed acute care hospital serving the communities of Osceola and Polk counties, provides a range of inpatient and outpatient services, including emergency care, diagnostic imaging, surgery, diagnostic cardiac catheterization, laboratory, and pharmacy and support services. The campus also houses a freestanding 42,000-square-foot medical office building for physicians and other healthcare providers. For more information, please visit www.poincianamedicalcenter.com.