A look inside Perry Memorial Hospital’s new COVID clinic

PRINCETON — The newly formed COVID clinic at Perry Memorial Hospital is headed into its fourth month since it was constructed in the corner of the hospital in early November.

The benefits of running everything and anything COVID-19 related in one office at the hospital has proven better safety and efficiency in caring for individuals dealing with the novel virus.

The clinic is located at what used to be the hospital’s east entrance, near the gift shop. The entrance is now closed off with temporary walls that make up a 500-square-foot space in what used to be a hospital lobby.

The location of the clinic allows for people to drive up to the hospital entrance and remain in their vehicles as they are tested. The location also prevents COVID patients from having to walk through the hospital for care, potentially exposing others to the virus.

The office is ran by three employees: Rebekka Root, nurse practitioner; Amanda Fulkerson, registration coordinator; and Baylee Tillman, medical office assistant.

They refer to themselves as the “COVID musketeers” as they work closely together and are able to communicate with one another from their desks when dealing with each patient.

Fulkerson is in charge of scheduling patients, Tillman swabs those who need to be tested for COVID and Root follows up with patients through telehealth visits and is there to answer the COVID hotline, a 24-hour service, which is available to anyone with a COVID-related question.

Root said being able to provide a COVID clinic like so was a “big opportunity” for the community.

“There was not a lot of outside opportunities to be tested or offered telehealth visits for patients who don’t have primary care physicians,” she said. “This helps alleviate some of that stress of trying to find a facility to be tested, especially for those who don’t have providers.”

Root stresses that even if people get tested for COVID at another facility, but don’t have a provider, they can still use Perry’s COVID hotline to talk about symptoms and complete a followup after receiving that positive COVID test result.

“We always offer the telehealth visits here to help treat them so they are not alone. There is someone always here who can help them,” she said.

While the clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., after hours the COVID hotline is transferred to the emergency room at the hospital where it’s answer there by staff throughout the night and early morning hours.

Fulkerson said the hotline receives calls from people from all over Bureau County and beyond. Many calls come from Peoria, Rock Falls, Dixon, Ottawa and even the Chicago suburbs. Fulkerson said many of the out-of-area callers call because they’re not sure where else to call or there’s limited COVID resources in their area. Just because they’re out of Perry’s service area doesn’t mean they don’t receive assistance from the COVID clinic.

Root said they are there to help anyone with any COVID-related issue. Whether it’s questions about symptoms, testing for those who don’t have insurance, how to isolate or quarantine from family members, etc. — no question goes unanswered. She added it’s more of a reliable one-on-one personal service for people to use rather than relying on the internet to find the answers in a time of need.

Root started her health care career at Perry last April at the start of the pandemic, so her first months in the profession have been spent researching COVID and finding the best treatment options and care for patients.

“It’s been very interesting. I’ve seen it all. … I’ve had a lot of rewarding experiences, especially when patients call days later saying how much better they’re feeling and thanking me, but also it’s been sad when you come in contact with sick patients who have to be administered into the hospital and you just worry about them at all times. You just don’t know with COVID. That’s the saddest part about it,” she said.

Perry Memorial Hospital’s COVID communication line can be reached at 815-875-4531.