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Visitor Restriction Changes Related to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

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Effective March 29, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. 

*The changes outlined in the following section also apply to all Special Care Nurseries. 

With the decrease in COVID-19-positive cases in our community and those requiring hospitalization, Kettering Health Network has made the decision to change NICU visitation restrictions to allow up to four (4) designated support persons to visit infants during the entire length of their NICU hospital stay. Please see details for NICU visitation outlined below. 

  • No more than two of the four support persons may visit the infant at the same time. Additional support persons must wait outside the facility until they are able to visit.  
  • No NICU visitation for confirmed COVID-19 mothers, partners, or designated support persons while able to transmit COVID-19. 
  • No COVID-19-positive persons or symptomatic individuals will be permitted to visit the patient unless it has been greater than 10 days since the test or onset of symptoms. 
  • No individuals awaiting test results will be permitted to visit the patient. 

Visitation Process for NICU Staff 

Step 1: Staff members will talk with parents or legal guardian of infant to identify who the four total designated support persons will be for the infant’s entire hospital stay. 

  • Parents or legal guardians are part of the total number of designated support persons who are allowed to visit the infant.   

Step 2: Designated support person information is to be placed on NICU visitation sheet already in use and scanned into the patient’s EMR for reference. Additionally, a photocopy of a visitor’s driver license should be on file by patient. This will be validated at unit check-in prior to unit access.    

Step 3: Each designated support person will be screened for the following COVID-19 questions at the NICU unit entrance prior to each visit with infant: 

  • Are you COVID-19 positive or have you been exposed to anyone who is COVID-19 positive in the past 14 days?  
  • Have you been tested for COVID-19 and are you waiting on results? 
  • Do you have, or have you had, any of the following in the last 10 days? 
    • Fever or chills 
    • Cough 
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
    • Tiredness 
    • Muscle or body aches 
    • Headache 
    • New loss of taste or smell 
    • Sore throat 
    • Congestion or runny nose 
    • Nausea or vomiting 
    • Diarrhea 
    • Fever  
  • In the past 10 days, have you had any new or unexplained symptoms?   

Designated support persons visiting infants must always wear a mask. If they are not able to wear a mask, staff will ask them to leave until a time when they are able to wear a mask. 

Exceptions to the Visitation Restrictions: 

  • If a designated support person is unable to continue to visit due to extenuating circumstances, any request to designate a different support person must be approved by the parent or legal guardian and manager. This change is permanent.   
  • If an infant’s status changes, parental or legal guardian approval will be required before any other visitors are allowed to see the infant.  

*There are no other changes to the current visitation restrictions for patients and patients with COVID-19 currently in effect. 

March 26, 2021
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