If you are looking for a list (list updated 1/18/2022) of COVID 19 testing sites in Greene County or a surrounding county, click here.
All GCGH My Clinic locations provide COVID-19 testing with a provider’s order. To order free COVID 19 at home testing kits from the government website, click here.
1/20/2022: we have free at home COVID 19 testing kits available for our community, until supplies last. We are giving away one free test for every member in a household. Free tests can be picked up at: My Linton Clinic, GCGH Business Office, My Bloomfield Clinic, My WestGate Clinic, My Worthington Clinic, TeamOrtho, and GCGH Emergency Department. You can just come in and pick up free tests. Call 812-847-4481 for more information.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
My Linton Clinic is now providing the FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer, during operating hours: Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
*Important update 1/7/2022:
The CDC has issued booster eligibility guidance for the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccination. The Pfizer Booster is available here at GCGH. Appointments to receive the booster can be scheduled at https://vaccine.coronavirus.in.gov/en-US/ According to the CDC, everyone ages 12 and older are eligible for a booster vaccine. CDC guidance includes:
- Teens 12–17 years old can get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster.
- Adults 18 years and older can get any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States.
- Those receiving a Pfizer or Moderna booster can get one at least 5 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series.
- Those receiving a Johnson & Johnson booster can get one at least 2 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination.
- If you are 18 years or older you may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot. Some people may prefer the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots..
Please see the CDC and ISDH COVID-19 Vaccination page for full details on eligibility guidance.
*Important update 10/29/2021:
The Pfizer vaccine has been approved by the FDA for individuals 5 years or older.
*Important update 8/16/2021:
For help with answering frequently asked questions regarding the vaccine, click here
Greene County General Hospital is a COVID-19 vaccination site. We are giving the Pfizer vaccine. At this time, eligible age is now 5 or older. If you are eligible to receive the vaccine now, click here to register.
Information for minors ages 5 to 17 registering for the vaccine- this age group must register for the Pfizer vaccine. 18 years or older may register for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Those registering at 5 to 17 years old also must have a parent/guardian consent. We ask that the parent/guardian accompanies the minor to the vaccination site.
For further information on the vaccine, please visit the ISDH COVID-19 website or the CDC website. You can also keep an eye on the Greene County General Hospital Facebook page for updates on when it will be available through GCGH or the Greene County Health Department.
Current Visitor Policy:
As of May 24, 2022:
- To recognize that rest and quiet times are an important part of the healing process, we prefer visitors from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. with quiet time hours of 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- We prefer no visitors under the age of 18.
- 2 visitors for Outpatient Services.
- ICU patients may have 2 visitors throughout their stay. This also depends on the situation and our staff is allowed to restrict or allow visitors, if necessary.
- Med/Surg and OB patients may have no more than 3 visitors throughout their stay. This also depends on the situation and our staff is allowed to restrict visitors, if necessary.
- Emergency Department patients may have 1-2 visitors. This also depends on the situation and our staff is allowed to restrict visitors, if necessary.
- All visitors screened at entrances and will receive a visitor sticker with our SINE screening kiosks. Those screening positive are not allowed to enter the hospital or clinics.
- Masks are required for anyone entering the hospital or hospital owned building.
- The cafeteria remains closed to the public at this time.
Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Information
Greene County General Hospital has received Monoclonal Antibody Infusions for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19). The product we are now using is Regen-Cov. Receiving monoclonal antibody treatments may benefit certain people with COVID-19. For more information with frequently asked questions check out the Monoclonal Antibodies fact sheet. A provider must order the monoclonal antibody treatment. To contact our My Clinics’ providers call 812-847-4481.
Stay Healthy with My Clinics
GCGH has opened telehealth to all patients of My Clinics! Connect with a provider from the comfort of home. Call 812-847-4481 to schedule a telehealth visit today. You only need an internet connection with a computer or smart phone! For more information click here.
Our My Linton Clinic has also extended convenient care hours to serve our community through this pandemic. The My Linton Clinic, located at 1210 North 1000 West, Linton, Indiana 47441, has convenient care hours with no appointment needed Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Important COVID-19 Links and Information
For up to date COVID-19 information from the Indiana State Department of Health that includes Greene County statistics, click here.
For up to date COVID-19 dashboard information from John Hopkins University & Medicine, click here.
For information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), click here.
For information from the Indiana COVID-19 Case Tracker, click here.
For information from the Regenstrief Institute, click here.
To watch our daily Facebook live updates, click here.
Greene County General Hospital and Glenburn Home Joint COVID-19 Response.
Staying Connected during the Pandemic
During these difficult times, it is important to evaluate your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Remember to try and social distance. We found a tool that calculates your risk when gathering with others. Click here to input the number of people at your gathering to determine the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Also, check out these links to virtually stay connected to your loved ones while staying safe and healthy!
Zoom Video Conferencing– signing up is free and Zoom has lifted their 40 minute time limit for free video calls on Thanksgiving.
Skype– create free video calls and signing up is not required.
Microsoft Teams– online meetings, chat and cloud storage for free. Signing up is free.
Cisco Webex– signing up is free and their free video conferencing version is generous with longer time limits and more participants allowed.
Google Meet– just announced that their premium video meetings are free for everyone.
Starleaf– just announced online video meeting and messaging is free for everyone. You will need an email address to sign up.
GCGH COVID-19 Safeguard Plan
It is the priority of Greene County General Hospital to ensure a safe environment for our patients, staff, visitors, and vendors during this COVID-19 Pandemic. Below is a listing of new measures and safeguards that we have put into place to ensure a safe environment.
Employee Health Screening Process
- All employees must take their temperature upon arrival for their work assignment. Any employee found to have a temperature greater than 99°F must return to their vehicle and call the GCGH Infection Preventionist.
- All employees must self-screen prior to their work assignment for exposure risks and symptoms. Employees should call the GCGH Infection Preventionist before leaving for work if they answer yes to any of the following.
- Do you have any sign of cough or shortness of breath above baseline, fever, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, headache, new loss of taste or smell?
- Have you been exposed to a person suspected of having or positive for COVID-19 without PPE?
- Are you a close contact of a person positive for COVID-19 as notified by the health department?
- Is a close contact of yours awaiting results of a COVID-19 test?
- Employees are required to wear a face mask at all times while on duty. The type of face mask will vary based on the work assignment.
- Employee allowance to work will be at the discretion of the Infection Preventionist.
Patient and Visitor Screening Process
- Each patient and visitor will have their temperature checked and be asked the following questions upon entering the facility. These responses will be documented on a screening log. For more information about our screening technology developed by NSWC Crane, click here.
- Do you have any sign of cough or shortness of breath above baseline, fever, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, headache, new loss of taste or smell?Have you been exposed to a person suspected of having or positive for COVID-19?
- Are you a close contact of a person positive for COVID-19 as notified by the health department?
- Is a close contact of yours awaiting results of a COVID-19 test?
- Have you been swabbed for COVID-19? Date?
- All patients will be provided a disposable mask and instructed to keep mask on at all times and directed as appropriate based on the responses to the screening questions.
- Visitors will be permitted only under certain circumstances (see “Visitor Policy Covid-19” for details). If permitted, visitors are required to wear the provided cloth mask at all time. Further restrictions may apply if the visitor responds yes to any of the screening questions.
Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols
- All patient care areas are completely disinfected between patients.
- All registration desks and counters are completely disinfected between patients.
- Common areas such as waiting rooms and hallways are continuously cleaned by Environmental Services Staff.
- Shared workspaces such as nurses’ stations are cleaned twice daily, at minimum, by the staff working in that workspace.
- Personal workstations are cleaned at the end of each shift, at minimum, by the person using that workstation.
Enhancing ability to wash or sanitize hands frequently
- Hand sanitizers and sinks are readily available throughout all GCGH facilities. Signage is posted reminding people to wash hands or sanitize frequently.
Social Distancing Compliance
- Meetings including more than 10 people are not permitted. Virtual meetings utilizing the Teams application should be conducted instead of in person meetings.
- Seating has been removed in waiting room areas to allow for 6 feet between seats.
- Patients are encouraged to return to their vehicles and wait when an extended wait time is necessary. Patients will be called on their cell phone when ready.
- Cafeteria seating has been minimized to allow for social distancing and dining room capacity has decreased by 50%.
- Cafeteria is open to employees only. Customers in the cafeteria line are to maintain a 6 foot distance between other patrons.
- Employees in break rooms and shared workstations are to position themselves so that a 6 foot distance is maintained between all people.
- When walking down hallways, people should walk close to walls when passing others so to keep a distance from others.
- No more than 3 people are allowed in an elevator car at any given time. People should position themselves as distanced as possible when riding in the elevator.
- Glass sneeze guards are being installed at registration and transaction counters to provide a barrier when person to person transactions need to occur.
- Surgical or cloth face masks are required at all times in any GCGH facility.
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
1. Q: Do I need to get tested for COVID-19?
A: You should consider testing for COVID-19 if you have symptoms of the virus (fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, or loss of taste or smell) without another explanation. If you get tested, you definitely need to stay home and self isolate while the results are pending. If the test is negative, you still may need to self isolate if there is no other explanation for your symptoms.
2. Q: I’m not symptomatic but someone at my church was positive. Should I be tested?
A: If you feel you were in close contact you can consider testing. You definitely should monitor for symptoms. If you are deemed a close contact (within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more, or you provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19, or you had direct physical contact with the person [hugged or kissed them], or you shared eating or drinking utensils, or they sneezed, coughed or got respiratory droplets on you) you may need to quarantine for 14 days observing for symptoms even if you have a negative test.
3. Q: What should I do if I don’t have symptoms but a family member tested positive for COVID-19 and we were around him?
A: If you were in close contact (within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more, or you provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19, or you had directed physical contact with the person [hugged or kissed them], or you shared eating or drinking utensils, or they sneezed, coughed or got respiratory droplets on you) you should self quarantine at home and monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
4. Q: How do I know if I need to be seen? I’m not feeling too bad but I do have some of the COVID-19 symptoms.
A: If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you need to self isolate at home for a minimum of 10 days plus at least 24 hours with improved symptoms and no fever. You should consider testing which can be done at My Linton Clinic (812-847-4481) with a clinician’s order or at the Indiana State Department of Health’s Optum site (LHI.care/covidtesting or call 1-888-634-1116) without an order but with an appointment. If you have trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face you should seek emergency care.
5. Q: I’m asymptomatic but I want to be tested. What should I do?
A: You can arrange testing at the ISDH Optum site (LHI.care/covidtesting or 888-634-1116). If you get tested, you should stay home until you receive your test results.
6. Q: Do we give rapid COVID-19 tests?
A: Routine COVID-19 testing is a PCR test sent to Labcore or Optum laboratories. These are not considered “rapid.” If you need a test because you have symptoms, you need to self isolate at home at least until the test is back and for the recommended 10 days minimum plus 24 hours of improved symptoms without fever. If you need a test for a close contact exposure, you need to quarantine at home for 14 days from the last contact to monitor for symptoms. A rapid test result will not change those recommendations.
7. Q: Do I have to go into the clinic to be tested? A: My Linton Clinic (812-847-4481) swabbing is currently done outside in the car as a drive up test. You may need an in-person or online virtual visit to get the test ordered by a clinician. You may also arrange testing without a clinician order through the Indiana State Department of Health’s Optum site (LHI.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1116).
8. Q: How long does it take for the results to come back?
A: The turnaround time is based on the lab and demand. Currently results come back in about 2-4 days.
9. Q: If I don’t have any symptoms, why do I have to be tested?
A: There may not be a good reason to get tested if you do not have symptoms. Everyone should take precautions to social distance (stay more than 6 feet apart from others), wear a mask or face covering, wash or sanitize your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, face, and nose, and stay home if you are sick or don’t feel well.
10. Q: If my coworker sitting beside me at work was positive, will I get sick?
A: It is possible to get sick if you have been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19. There is an increased risk if you are a close contact (within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more, or you provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19, or you had directed physical contact with the person [hugged or kissed them], or you shared eating or drinking utensils, or they sneezed, coughed or got respiratory droplets on you). If you are deemed a close contact, you should quarantine at home away from others to monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the last contact.
11. Q: If I get tested, when can I go back to work?
A: If you get tested, you should stay home until the test results is back. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 without an alternative diagnosis, you should stay home for a minimum of 10 days plus 24 hours with improved symptoms and no fever. Someone with symptoms of COVID-19 should NOT go back to work even if they have a negative test.
12. Q: Where can I get a rapid test?
A: The standard PCR test can be obtained at My Linton Clinic (812-847-4481) or the Indiana State Department of Health Optum site (LHI.care/covidtesting or 888-634-1116). There is very limited availability for rapid PCR testing which is reserved for special situations such as emergency surgery. The newer antigen tests are not as accurate and not currently in use here yet, but are sometimes called “rapid.”
13. Q: How long is the wait to get a test at the clinics?
A: My Linton Clinic testing site is open 7 days a week in conjunction with the Convenient Care Clinic hours. You may obtain a test here with a clinician’s order.
14. Q: Do I have to have an appointment to be seen in My Linton Clinic’s Convenient Care?
A: You do not need an appointment, but we request you call ahead to receive instructions about how to be seen based on your symptoms. We might do a walk in visit, a car visit, or a telehealth computer visit.