To help keep updated information in one place, please visit this page for updated facility-wide announcements, resources, and education. While researching information regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), please obtain information from reliable sources, which you will also find listed below.

If you have reason to suspect you are ill with COVID-19, please inform staff of any symptoms or concerns prior to your arrival. 

We’re Here. We always have been and we always will be.

We’re Open. Don’t delay your care.  You have options. Choose from in-person visits or telehealth at our primary care locations in Independence, Jesup, and Oelwein. Telehealth is available under a provider’s discretion. Now accepting new patients at all locations!

We’re Ready. We are 100% committed to your health and safety.

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations like COVID-19. Help is here if you need it. Counseling services are now being offered through our family medicine locations. Whether you are an established or non-established patient, you can call 319-332-0950 to schedule an appointment.

Your health, safety, and satisfaction are our very top priorities at BCHC.  Below you will find information on different practices and policies that BCHC and its clinics have put into place to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.

Masking Information

Vaccination Information

COVID vaccinations are now being administered to individuals ages 5 and older.  BCHC encourages those who are eligible and medically able to get vaccinated to please do so.  Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.  It also helps reduce the spread of the virus in our communities, and in those who cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine yet.  Please call your primary care provider’s office to schedule a vaccination or your pharmacy of choice. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit bchealth.org/covidvax.

BCHC Door Access & Screening

All non-emergency room patients must enter through the main entrance, located on the south side of the hospital Monday-Friday.  Those visiting for therapy may enter through the Therapy & Wellness entrance after their initial visit.  Urgent Care patients may enter through the west, Urgent Care doors during the hours of 5:30-7pm Monday-Friday, and 10am-4pm Saturday-Sunday.  On the weekends, the front MOB doors are closed; all patients must enter through the Emergency entrance, or Urgent Care entrance for Urgent Care services.

All staff members are screened upon entrance daily.  Should a staff member report any symptom of COVID-19 or other acute respiratory or gastrointestinal illness, they will be asked to leave and consult with the employee health nurse.   Any staff member with an acute illness must remain home for a certain period of time before returning to work.  Once they are eligible to return, they will be screened by the employee health nurse before being released to work.

BCHC Visitor Restrictions

All patients are allowed 2 healthy visitors over the age of 18 for any service as necessary. Visitors for inpatient, surgery, and emergency department patients will be limited to two healthy visitors at a time.  If you have a a specific need which requires additional visitors or caretakers, please ask to speak to a manger. Patient visitors are still to be maintained to the least amount necessary for the patient’s care.

BCHC Cleaning & Air Flow Implementations

BCHC prides itself in being a clean and safe facility for its patients, residents, guests, and staff members.  To help decrease the exposure to COVID-19 and other transmittable acute illnesses, additional cleaning measures have been put into place throughout the facility and clinics.  Additionally, some rooms within our urgent care, ER, and inpatient unit have been turned into negative air flow rooms to help clean contaminated air and induce negative pressure.   These rooms are reserved for patients with respiratory illnesses.  These rooms will stay empty for a period of time before cleaned and before any staff or patient re-enters.

Urgent Care Call-Ahead Appointments 

Urgent Care is open from 5:30-8:30pm, Monday-Friday and 10am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday.  We ask that all patients call ahead for urgent care appointments from 9:30am-4pm on weekends and 5:00-8:30pm on weeknights by calling 319-332-0937. If exhibiting COVID-like/respiratory symptoms, please remain in your vehicle until called by a staff member.

COVID-19 Information

To learn more about COVID-19, including all recent guidelines, please visit COVID-19 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Self-Quarantine Information

If you suspect you are ill with COVID-19 and do not require medical services, please isolate for 10 days (this count begins with the day your symptoms started) until you have been fever free x24 hours without using fever reducing medications and are seeing an improvement in your symptoms. If you have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 and you remain feeling well and without any symptoms, please follow the guidance listed here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.