Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH), French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), and Marian Regional Medical Center (MRMC), which are Dignity Health Central Coast hospitals, want to assure the community that the hospital emergency departments are safe for anyone in need of urgent health care or experiencing a medical emergency.

In a proactive effort to care for those seeking emergency medical attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dignity Health Central Coast hospitals have taken extensive measures to separate potential coronavirus patients from all others. Each emergency department has created separate patient treatment areas to reduce risk of exposures, while continuing to care for medical emergencies, such as cardiac, abdominal, trauma, neurological, (stroke) and other illnesses.

“Dignity Health Central Coast hospitals want community members to know they will be safe in the event of a health related emergency, says Chief Medical Officer Scott Robertson, MD. “Our Urgent Care centers are safe and continue to be open for most minor injuries and illnesses, but for more serious or life-threatening situations, a visit to the emergency department immediately is recommended, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are seeing individuals that have delayed necessary ER visits, and we urge people with health emergencies to take immediate action knowing we are prepared to provide care in a safe environment, as we always have.”

In addition to their hospital emergency departments, the five Dignity Health Urgent Care centers are accepting patients.

About Dignity Health Central Coast

Dignity Health Central Coast is comprised of five award-winning hospitals, all recognized for their quality of care, safety and service, primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically advanced imaging centers, outpatient services, and comprehensive home health services. For more information, visit dignityhealth.org/central-coast.