Letter From Dr. Keven Richardson, SMRMC Chief Medical Officer, Concerning COVID-19

Dear community members, 

Over the past several weeks, our medical team has been working around the clock to prepare for COVID-19. Our screening protocol, which takes place away from the main hospital campus, follows the published guidelines of the top critical care specialists in the nation. By following this protocol, we are able to provide the very best care to all of our patients. Sometimes this involves admission to the hospital. Other times, rest and reassurance is the best road to recovery.

Today, we saw our first 'positive' hospital screen for SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Like many others that become infected with this coronavirus, our patient developed a respiratory infection that required treatment within the hospital, but is now recovering at home, following standard isolation precautions.

Our dedicated medical team continues to follow strict infection prevention measures to ensure that all patients receive the care that they deserve in the safest possible setting. At the same time, we are committed to following the best practice recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Some patients with coronavirus infection require hospital admission....others with milder infections will fully recover at home.

We are all ready to face the challenges that will come in the weeks and months ahead. Please do your part to join us in reducing the impact of COVID-19 on Southwest Mississippi: wash your hands, avoid close contact with others, and do your best to stay at home.

If you have questions, please call 601-249-DOCS

Stay well,

Kevin M. Richardson, M.D.

Chief Medical Officer

Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center

215 Marion Ave., McComb, MS 39648