TO: Ballad Health All
FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center (CEOC)
DATE: July 16, 2020
TITLE: Updated visitation policy – effective July 17 at 11 a.m.
ACTION: Please review and share with your team members
THIS POLICY GOES INTO EFFECT ON FRIDAY, JULY 17, AT 11 A.M.
In response to a rapid, sustained increase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Appalachian Highlands, Ballad Health is implementing additional visitation restrictions in its facilities.
Effective Friday, July 17, at 11 a.m., Ballad Health’s latest visitation policy and patient guidelines stipulate:
- A single, designated patient-support person – or visitor – is allowed for the duration of each patient’s visit or hospital stay.
- The visitor will only be allowed onsite from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Visitors are still not allowed in our behavioral health or long-term care facilities, or during outpatient procedures.
- Exceptions include neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and rooms with a pediatric patient which may have two guests per patient, and those guests must be the parents or legal guardians. They are permitted at all times.
- Exceptions may be made in Ballad Health Medical Associates clinics, labor and delivery, emergency departments and in the pediatric emergency room at Niswonger Children’s Hospital where one guest is permitted at all times, and during extenuating circumstances or in the case of end-of life-care.
- Designated visitors will still be required to wear a mask, and they will be screened for signs of illness before they enter any patient care area.
We understand this is a difficult time for our patients and their loved ones; however, these precautions are crucial in the face of the continued COVID-19 threat.
Points to remember
- While we appreciate the importance of patients’ loved ones and support systems to their comfort and happiness, the safety and security of all patients, as well as our physicians and team members, is paramount.
- Allowing additional visitors in healthcare facilities, even with screening processes in place, increases the risk of COVID-19 spread, endangering patients, team members and communities.
- COVID-19 is a serious public health threat, and we all must do our part to contain it.
- COVID-19 spreads quickly and can be dangerous, especially to people who are seriously ill or living with chronic conditions, which is the case for many of Ballad Health’s patients.
- A person can have COVID-19 with mild – or no – symptoms and unknowingly spread it to others.
- By allowing as few people as possible to enter the hospital, more patients, doctors and team members can stay safe – which then helps protect their families and loved ones.
- Our visitation guidelines have been developed, similarly to those in place at hospitals and health systems throughout the nation, to protect our communities from further spread of infectious disease.
- We’ll continue following national best practices regarding infection prevention, patient safety and healthcare experience.
- The spread of COVID-19 in the Appalachian Highlands – and most of the nation – has been on a steep, rapid increase for several weeks. Without strict enforcement of infection prevention measures, these cases could overwhelm our health system.
Ballad Health’s visitation and patient guidelines
- A single, designated patient-support person – or visitor – is allowed for the duration of each patient’s visit or hospital stay.
- The visitor will only be allowed onsite from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Ballad Health’s clinical leadership will address any exceptions to this policy directly with affected patients and/or their families.
- Designated visitors will still be required to wear a mask, and they will be screened for signs of illness before they enter any patient care area.
- Ballad Health will continue prohibiting visitors under 18 unless they qualify for an approved extenuating circumstance.
- No visitation of COVID-19 positive patients or patients who are under investigation, except during end-of-life situations, will be permitted.
- The no-visitation policy will continue to apply to behavioral health patients, long-term care patients and those undergoing outpatient testing, unless that patient needs special assistance.
- Elements of Ballad Health’s previous visitation policy that remain unchanged include:
- Labor and delivery units allow one visitor per room at all times.
- The neonatal intensive care unit at Niswonger Children’s Hospital, as well as rooms with pediatric patients, allow two visitors, but they must be the parents or legal guardians.
- Ballad Health Medical Associates patients may be granted one visitor, with provider approval, and they must be screened upon arrival to the clinic.
- Visitors accompanying surgical patients are permitted in the surgery waiting room during the procedure.
- Appropriate screening and physical distancing requirements are enforced and will continue for the foreseeable future.
- Visitation for palliative care, hospice, comfort care and critical care patients, who are not COVID-19 positive, will also remain the same. It includes:
- A maximum of four visitors may be present in the patient room at any one time.
- Visitation should primarily be limited to immediate family members/significant individuals to the patient.
- Visits should be planned, and the schedule communicated to the screening team at the facility’s entrance.
- Considering an unknown length of the process, the family visits may occur daily if desired and as scheduled above.
- Visitors should proceed to the patient room and exit the facility directly.
- Individual exception to the number of family members may be considered if approved by nursing leadership and based on the patient’s care provision requirements at the time of the visit request.
Additional notes
- Patients and visitors should bring their own cloth face covering, such as a handmade mask, bandana, buff, etc. For pediatric patients, children younger than 2 should not wear a mask. Please ensure any children can easily breathe through the mask.
- These updated visitation policies will remain in place until further notice. Ballad Health will issue communication when the restrictions are lifted or modified.
- COVID-19 news and updates will continue to be shared to balladhealth.org/COVID19.
- As always, wash your hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Ballad Health team members are required to wear masks at all times when they’re at work. There are no exceptions to this policy, and team members who are not in compliance face disciplinary action. Please read previous CEOC communication for details and unit-specific face covering requirements.
