Tulane Lakeside ER to temporarily close, effective March 20

Move allows tulane health system to shift critical staff to downtown campus to combat COVID-19 outbreak

To best deploy Tulane Health System's resources to meet community needs, the Lakeside Hospital emergency department will temporarily close at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2020.

"Tulane Lakeside has no patients being treated, or awaiting test results, for suspected COVID-19," said Dr. Bob Lynch, Tulane Health System CEO. "Closing the ER here will allow us to move key clinical staff and physicians to the downtown Tulane Medical Center campus, which is experiencing a surge of COVID-19 and suspected COVID-19 patients."

Lakeside Hospital remains open for inpatient services, including women's services, neonatal intensive care services, orthopedics and inpatient rehabilitation. This is a temporary closure, Dr. Lynch said, and the ER will re-open as soon as possible.

To reiterate CDC guidelines, people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms - fever, cough and shortness of breath - should first call their primary care physician. Most people will not experience symptoms serious enough to be hospitalized and can recover at home (practicing social distancing to help prevent COVID-19 spread.) If you are experiencing any emergency warning signs as listed below, you should visit an ER or call 911.

Warning signs include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

Older adults, or those with pre-existing health concerns, should also take special care. Please visit the CDC's website for more information. Patients can also access a caregiver through a virtual visit at TulaneCareNav.com.

"This decision reflects our overarching responsibility to do whatever we can to meet this unprecedented challenge," Dr. Lynch said. "I thank all our staff and caregivers - and those throughout our community - for their continued selfless work to care for those in need."