COVID-19 Safety & Resources

Continuing To Care For You With The Most Rigorous Safety Standards

We’ve all put many things on hold as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Don’t let your health be one of them.

Although this is a challenging time for everyone, Maimonides is facing the challenge head on. Whether you need routine medical care, coronavirus testing, or treatment, we are here to help.

You may feel nervous about coming to the hospital during the novel coronavirus (also called COVID-19) pandemic. To ensure your wellbeing, we’ve put new safety practices in place throughout our hospital.

Your Safety Is Our Top Priority: COVID-19 Safety Practices At Maimonides

Download – Open, Safe & Ready Information Document

Your safety and wellbeing, and that of our staff, has always been our first concern — and that commitment has not changed. To protect everyone who comes into our hospital during the COVID-19 crisis, we have implemented several additional safety precautions. These include:

Rigorous cleaning: We continuously clean and disinfect all areas and frequently touched surfaces.
Wearing face masks: We require all patients and staff to wear appropriate face coverings.
Social distancing: We try to keep 6 feet of space (about the length of a bicycle) between people in our facilities wherever possible.
Daily monitoring: Our staff self-monitors their health (such as daily temperature checks) to make sure everyone working here is healthy.
COVID-19 screening: We assess all patients for symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as they arrive at our hospital.
Separating virus patients: We maintain separate areas so that patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 remain apart from other patients.

Is It Safe To Come To Maimonides For Doctor’s Appointments Or Surgery?

Delaying needed medical care is never a good idea. A minor issue can sometimes turn into a major problem without timely treatment.

We have enhanced safety measures in place throughout our hospital and outpatient locations. If you need to see a doctor, have surgery, or other treatment, we’ll make sure you can visit us safely.

Find Out More About COVID-19 Safety At Maimonides:

Emergencies: What Extra Precautions Are In Place In The Emergency Department (ED)?

If you are feeling ill, you should first call your primary care doctor or a virtual urgent care. Your doctor can help you determine if you need emergency care or if you can safely monitor your symptoms at home.

If you or a loved one experiences a medical emergency, know that our Emergency Department is open and ready to care for you. To ensure a safe visit, we are taking extra precautions, including:

COVID-19 screening: We assess all arriving patients (with or without COVID-19 symptoms) in a medical tent set up outside the ED entrance.
Face masks: We require everyone to wear a face mask while they are in the ED.
Separate areas: We’ve set up separate waiting and treatment areas for:
- Children
- Pregnant women
- Patients with COVID-like symptoms
- All other adult patients
Limiting companions: We allow one adult caregiver to accompany a child (or an adult who requires assistance) in the ED. We request that all other patients come into the ED alone.

Doctor Appointments: What To Expect When You Come For A Doctor’s Appointment

Whether you visit your doctor at our hospital or one of our outpatient locations, your safety is our first priority. If it’s necessary to see your doctor in person, you can expect added precautions, including:

Face masks: All staff and patients are required to wear face masks. If you do not have a mask, we will provide one for you as soon as you arrive.
Staff health monitoring: Our staff monitors their own health, including temperature checks, every day to ensure that everyone working in our offices is healthy.
Social distancing: We will maintain a physical distance of 6 feet from you, except when we need to perform a procedure or examination.
Timing appointments: We space our appointments so our waiting rooms are never full.
Limiting visitors: We ask that you arrive alone unless it is essential for someone to accompany you. We are happy to include additional family members in important discussions by phone during your visit.
COVID-19 screening: When you arrive, we will screen you for any COVID-like symptoms. If you have a fever (100° F or above) or other symptoms, we will ask you to return home. We will continue to monitor your condition with virtual care visits.
Continuous cleaning: We clean our offices frequently throughout the day using an EPA-approved disinfectant.

Surgeries: What To Expect When You Come In For Surgery

Our doctors are always prepared to safely perform emergency or medically necessary surgery. If you and your doctor determine that you need surgery, know that we are taking extra precautions to protect you. When you are admitted for a surgical procedure, you can expect:

Reconfigured access: safe pathways from within the hospital and the Emergency Department to surgical and recuperative areas.
Streamlined admission process: and prescreening before entry into surgical areas.
Optimized scheduling: and patient transport to maximize social distancing from surgical prep areas, to surgical suites, to post-anesthesia care units (PACU) and intensive care recovery units.
COVID-19 testing: We will test you for COVID-19, whether you have symptoms or not.
Staff health screening: We test all of our doctors, nurses, and operating room staff for COVID-19 — we also screen them daily.
Rigorous cleaning: We clean and disinfect all areas and surfaces continually.
Limiting visitors: Restrictions on visitors to help ensure the safety of our patients and staff.
In addition, areas of the hospital in which COVID-19 patients were previously treated have been temporarily closed, comprehensively disinfected using multiple technologies, and significant refurbishing with new materials and cleaning practices, including advanced ultraviolet virus-eliminating technologies.

Can I Skip The Doctor’s Office And Schedule A Virtual Visit Instead?

If you feel more comfortable staying home, many of our doctors are available for consults through our telemedicine program. Virtual visits at Maimonides allow you to discuss symptoms, review medications and develop a care plan — all without leaving home.

We’ve partnered with Amwell, a leading provider of telemedicine technology, for our virtual visits. When you schedule an appointment, you’ll receive instructions for downloading the Amwell app on your mobile phone, tablet, or computer. You’ll use the app to connect by video call with your doctor.

Find out more about our telemedicine options or schedule a virtual visit.

Resources & Policies

Visiting Hours & Policies

Our visiting policies have changed to keep our patients, their family, and our staff safe.

Click Here to See Our Visiting Hours & Policies

How You Can Help

#LoveForMaimo

Support our frontline heroes by sending them wishes and thanks.

Email your message to: [email protected]

To Donate Supplies & Equipment

For information about how to donate supplies or food, please email us at [email protected] Please include your name, phone number, and the type of item you would like to donate.

To Donate Blood

Helping others is in your blood. Donate now to help maintain our blood supply during these challenging times.

To keep donors and staff safe, donations are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment call 718-283-7694.

Males that have been confirmed to have COVID-19 and are now recovered and symptom-free for at least 14 days can donate plasma. This plasma may contain antibodies that, when transfused to patients who are actively ill with COVID-19, can help provide an immune response to the virus. Please contact Maimonides Donor Center for information on how to donate at 718-283-7657.

To Make A Monetary Donation

You support is needed now more than ever – Click here to contribute today

What You Need To Know

The Top 3 Things You Should Know

1) Practice Social Distancing

When you must be in public, keep at least 6 feet distance from others.
Wear a mask.

2) Wash Your Hands Often

Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds every time.
Alternatively, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

3) If You Feel Sick

If you have a fever, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines, such as acetaminophen.
Anyone at high risk for complications should talk to their healthcare provider for more information.

At Maimonides Medical Center we are all working together to protect our patients and staff. We are in close contact with the public health authorities and encourage everyone to follow the latest guidance published by the City, State, and Federal governments, which can be found here:

Additional Information

Signs & Symptoms

The incubation period can last from 2-14 days before symptoms appear.

Alert your doctor if you:

Have the following symptoms:

Cough
Fever
Shortness of breath

Have come in close contact with someone with COVID-19
Have recently traveled to an area experiencing an outbreak

Risk Factors & Prevention

Some people are at higher risk than others, but taking everyday precautions can help keep them safe.

Who is at risk?

Older adults
People with serious chronic medical conditions like diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, cancer, and weakened immune systems

Ways to protect yourself

Clean your hands often
Stay home
Don’t travel
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Keep distance from infected people (over 6 feet)