CLEARFIELD – A local medical professional is on a ventilator in the Altoona Hospital after a patient exposed her to the COVID-19 virus.
Jean Britton, office manager for the Clearfield Professional Group, confirmed in an interview Friday that Julie Hillyer, a nurse practitioner with the firm, started showing symptoms on Saturday, Oct. 17 and tested positive a few days later.
In all six different people at the practice have tested positive for the virus, she said.
In support of Hillyer, they are asking the community to turn their porch lights on Sunday night. This “light up the night” event will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In addition, they are encouraging people to post a photo of their light on their Facebook page as a way to show Hillyer the community is thinking and praying for her.
Rumors and blame have been circulating on social media about this outbreak, and Britton wanted to set the record straight on their procedures during the pandemic.
Britton went on to explain that they have been screening their patients by asking the basic questions recommended by the Department of Health that includes a question of whether a patient has been out of the state or not.
Britton stated that a patient lied about this, and this person exposed Hillyer to the virus.
One rumor is that Dr. Richard Johnson caught COVID because he is failing to wear a mask. Britton said he has been wearing a face shield, which is approved by the Department of Health as appropriate PPE.
In his case, his exposure came from someone who was told to quarantine and be tested, but this person came into the office with another patient and was untruthful with the staff about their circumstances.
There is no evidence he infected anyone with the virus.
Dr. Johnson is expected to return to the office next week, Britton said but he will probably not see patients right away.
The Department of Health has been following up with contact tracing for people who may have been exposed at the office.
The staff also contacted all the patients that had been in the office earlier that week, prior to Hillyer being exposed as a precaution.
We have 4,000 patients and “we’re like family” and take care of each other, she said.
The building was professionally cleaned by ServPro, which fogged the building with disinfectant to kill the disease.
The Department of Health has not ordered the practice to change any of its procedures.
Even so, access to the building is being restricted to only one entrance and people will have to sign a form noting their answers to the standard questions in case someone lies again.
Also, before anyone enters the building their temperature will be taken. Previously this was done in the waiting room before people were taken back into the patient rooms.
Britton pointed out that many people who have the virus do not have a temperature.
If anyone has severe symptoms, they are not even allowed out of the parking lot, she stressed.
If anyone has any questions or concerns about Clearfield Professional Group’s procedures and policies, or if they can help you, Britton encourages you to contact her at 814-765-5796.