Cape Fear Valley Health will be loosening its visitation restrictions starting Tuesday, Feb. 22, due to improvements in the local positivity rates of COVID-19 and the dropping rate of COVID-19 admissions.
According to the new policy, non-COVID-19 patients will be allowed two visitors per day between noon to 8 p.m. COVID-19 patients will be allowed one visitor per day, between the hours of noon and 8 p.m.
In the Emergency Department, visitors will not be allowed in the waiting room, but one visitor will be allowed once the patient has been given a room.
"We believe this is the right decision at this time due to the current trend in positive test rates and COVID-19 admissions," Chief Operating Officer Daniel Weatherly said in a press release. "Masking requirements for staff and visitors will continue, and we will continue to assess the situation to possibly relax visitation restrictions further if these trends continue. Though we are seeing improving signs, we realize the pandemic is still with us and strongly encourage everyone in the community to get vaccinated and get their booster shot when it's due."
The exceptions to the new visitor's policy are listed:
- Surgery and procedural patients will be allowed two visitors in the pre-op area, or their visitors may wait in the surgical waiting room if arriving with the patient. Once a surgery patient or procedural patient has been admitted, two visitors can go with the patient to their room.
- Inpatients awaiting surgery or a procedure may have two visitors during visiting hours. Care Companions may stay with the patient overnight and remain until the patient is taken to surgery.
- Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital surgical patients may have two support persons who may wait in the lobby during the procedure.
- Outpatient clinics and Fayetteville Ambulatory Surgical Center will allow two visitors per patient.
- Laboring mothers may have two support people/visitors for the duration of their stay. If a support person/visitor leaves the premises for any reason, they will not be allowed back into the building.
- Family-Centered Care Unit: May have two visitors/support people during their entire stay. The two designated visitors/support people may leave and return.
- Pediatric patients: A legal minor may have two parents or guardians with them, and the parents/guardians may leave and return.
- Patients who need a healthcare decision-maker or require communication assistance may have one Care Companion with them at all times. The Care Companion may be changed one time each day between noon and 8 p.m.
- Cancer Center patients having a consultation visit may have two people with them.
- End of Life patients may have one End of Life visit with up to four family members for a combined total visitation time of one hour. Only two visitors at a time may be present at the bedside. In certain circumstances, the nursing supervisor may allow for compassionate exceptions to this rule for End of Life patients.
Visitors with symptoms of a fever or respiratory illness symptoms, including cough or shortness of breath, should remain home. A face mask must be worn at all times if inside Cape Fear Valley Health or one of its clinics. Cloth masks and neck gaiters are not permitted.
All visitors will be screened with a brief verbal questionnaire and a temperature scan before entry. Those who refuse to answer the questions or have a temperature above 100.3 Fahrenheit will be denied access.
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