MESA COUNTY, Colo. — Community Hospital is donating over 300 masks to the Mesa County Emergency Operations Center for distribution to assist the homeless population in our community during COVID-19. 

“Community Hospital has received overwhelming support from the community during these unprecedented times,” said Chris Thomas, President and CEO for Community Hospital. “For the past several weeks, we have received over 2,000 donated community made cloth masks from members of the community spanning from Clifton to Fruita as well as the surrounding communities. These were originally intended for our essential staff working at the hospital and our outside clinics but because we have received such a large quantity from people wanting to help, we knew this was our opportunity to pay it forward.” added Thomas.

Community Hospital has also donated masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to Colorado Mesa University, Nuclear Care Partners, HopeWest and other essential businesses in need. Giving back to the community has been part of Community Hospital’s mission since they opened their doors in 1946.

Additionally, Community Hospital has expanded telemedicine services to allow patients to meet with their provider remotely during COVID-19. “Telemedicine is something that we have offered for many years both in our clinical settings and at the hospital but COVID-19 has certainly underscored the importance of this additional health care resource for our patients,” said Thomas.

During COVID-19, health care providers want to reassure people that it is safe to access health care in the hospital setting or physician’s office. Hospitals have seen a significant decline in patient visits during COVID -19 and there is a growing concern that residents are foregoing medical treatment, even in emergency situations, which can be life threatening.

Community Hospital has multiple safety measures in place to help keep patients, visitors, staff and providers as safe as possible during COVID-19. Additional safety measures include screening everyone who enters the hospital, requiring all staff to wear a mask while at work, regular and rigorous cleaning throughout the facility, and encouraging people to call their provider or emergency department prior to presenting to the health care facility.