(Potosi) A physician at Washington County Memorial Hospital in Potosi removed herself from patient care Wednesday after she was notified by a hospital in Ohio that a patient she had cared for there on March 6th had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Immediately after being notified, the doctor shared the information with administrators at the Washington County hospital.

The doctor serves as a hospitalist, seeing patients on behalf of their primary care physicians.

A news release from the hospital provided this statement…”At that time, we called the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services hotline for guidance,” said chief nursing officer Jenifer Ferguson.

The Department of Health and Senior Services said the hospitalist is at medium risk for exposure and recommended a 14-day quarantine and self-monitoring of symptoms.

The state health department indicated that all patients and staff who were in contact with the hospitalist are at low risk, because the doctor had not displayed any symptoms according to Ferguson.

The state advised that no additional quarantine would be necessary for staff or patients.

Ferguson goes on to say they have arranged for substitute hospitalist coverage and they are taking every precaution advised by the D.H.S.S.

Potosi hospital staff and patients have been notified they are at low risk of exposure and all patient care areas have been thoroughly cleaned.

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