As we sustain high COVID-19 patient volumes, we are moving to visitation level black to protect our guests and teams and limit the spread of COVID-19.
Exceptions to the visitation process
- No visitation will be allowed by anyone under the age of 18 for levels red and black.
- No NICU visitation for confirmed COVID-19 mothers and partners while able to transmit COVID-19.
- No COVID-19 positive persons or symptomatic individuals will be permitted to visit a patient unless it has been greater than 10 days since the test or onset of symptoms.
- No individuals awaiting COVID-19 test results will be permitted to visit patients.
- In Maternity, 1 support doula may be permitted.
Double occupancy rooms
- Inpatient rooms with double occupancy are limited to a total of two (2) visitors at any time for the room regardless of the number of patients in the room.
Patients suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19
As a reminder, here is our current visitation process for:
- Patients suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19 are limited to one (1) visitor at a time by appointment only.
- Visitors must make an appointment to visit between the hours of 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Visitors are no longer required to sign a waiver before visiting a patient with COVID-19.
- Visitors are no longer restricted to a two-hour time limit for each visit with a patient.
- Hospital-provided PPE is to be worn by the visitor in the room, with social distancing practiced at all times during the visit.
- Any additional visitors must wait outside the facility until their turn to see the patient.
Visitor mask policy
- Patients and approved visitors must wear a mask when visiting regardless of vaccination status.
- Patients and visitors may provide and wear their own mask or will be required to accept and wear the mask provided by the hospital facility.
- Masks or facial coverings must fully cover the nose and mouth. Masks should be worn at all times.
- If a visitor refuses to wear a mask, the visitor will be asked to leave the facility until they are able to wear a mask.
Inpatient units, Maternity, Inpatient Rehab, and Emergency Department
To support communication with designated visitors allowed for the duration of the patient stay, please use the following materials that message our Safety First strategies.
Directions for 1 visitor per stay:
- When providing the designated visitor the green bracelet, print and review the handout about mask requirements, COVID-19 symptoms, and visitor/patient meal sharing restrictions. (Shared Safety Plan attached).
- For ED: Provide a Safety First card informing the visitor they may be asked to wait in their car until the patient is called back.
- The visitor keeps the handout/card.
- If the visitor has concerns about the Safety First strategies in the handout, please use your chain of command.
- Create a designated visitor list for your unit. For your patient, add the designated visitor name. This list can be used to quickly identify the designated visitor for each patient. Visitors must check-in at the nurses’ station.
- For transfers to another department
- Include the designated visitor name in handoff
- If HUC is available, handoff designated visitor name to receiving unit