COVID-19 Closes Kent Endoscopy Unit

WARWICK, RI — The Kent Hospital Endoscopy Unit is temporarily closed due to potential exposure to COVID-19, prompting the diversion of Kent endoscopy patients to Women & Infants Hospital.

Members of the unit are now quarantining for 14 days, according to a statement from Care New England, which owns the hospital.

“Patients with an appointment for an endoscopy procedure should connect with their provider, so they can be directed appropriately on whether to reschedule or redirect to another location. It is out of an abundance of caution that we redirect patients for this specific service, as our small team here has been exposed to each other and will quarantine at this time,” Care New England said in a statement Thursday.

Health care professionals face an increased risk of COVID-19 infection during endoscopies, according to articles published in the journal Elsevier and the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The risk, according to the Elsevier article, “Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: what the department of endoscopy should know,” stems from “diffusion of respiratory diseases that can be spread via an airborne route, including aspiration of oral and fecal material via endoscopes.”

Care New England said the Rhode Island Department of Health (RI DOH) has been notified and is working with the hospital’s in its response.