Mary Rutan Hospital representatives announced Monday that it will begin lifting some of the visitation restrictions put into place to protect community members, patients and staff from the coronavirus.
With current data showing limited and sustained reductions in COVID-19 cases in our community, Mary Rutan Hospital leadership has decided to ease some of the visitation restrictions that were initially instituted on March 19.
“We know how much it means to patients to have their loved ones, friends and family beside them during their healthcare visits, and we also know it’s been extremely hard during the COVID-19 pandemic as patients and families were restricted from seeing each other out of an abundance of safety,” said Mandy Goble, Mary Rutan Hospital president and CEO.
“So, it is with pleasure that we can announce that at least some of our visitation restrictions will be lifted to give our patients time with their family and friends while they receive care in our facilities. Having that support system there for them is so vital, and I just want to applaud our team members, nurses and doctors for really stepping up and providing that emotional support when no one else could be there.”
Effective Monday, June 8, Mary Rutan Hospital’s latest visitation policy and patient guidelines will allow:
• Hospital inpatient, surgery and ICU patients — One healthy adult visitor per day for each patient experiencing inpatient care or surgery, during limited hours from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and as early as 6 a.m. for surgery patients.
• Hospital outpatient (for example, lab testing, radiology imaging, cardiology testing, clinic appointments on the main hospital campus) — One healthy adult caregiver per patient if physical or cognitive disability impacts the patient’s capacity to effectively participate in their medical care. A parent/guardian is considered the caregiver for a minor child (under 18 years old).
• Emergency Department — One healthy adult visitor per patient, hours are not restricted in this area; or two healthy parents or guardians will be permitted with a patient who is a minor child (under 18 years old).
• Family Birth Center — One healthy adult support person for laboring and obstetric patients for the duration of the stay.
• Mary Rutan Health Center, Urgent Care, Imaging Center and all physician clinics located off of the main hospital campus — One healthy adult caregiver per patient if physical or cognitive disability impacts the patient’s capacity to effectively participate in their medical care. A parent/guardian is considered the caregiver for a minor child (under 18 years old).
Mary Rutan Hospital will continue to maintain its policy of not allowing visitors under 18 unless they qualify for an approved extenuating circumstance.
Additionally, no visitation of COVID-19 positive patients or patients who are under investigation, except during end-of-life situations, will be permitted.
General visitation guidelines include:
• All visitors at all locations will be screened and must wear a cloth face covering at all times within the facility. Visitors are asked to take their own face covering. Visitors who refuse to wear a face covering will not be permitted to enter the facility.
• Visitors should proceed to the patient room or a designated waiting area for the facility visited, and exit the facility directly upon completion of the visit.
• The cafeteria at the hospital campus remains closed to visitors but, for inpatient visitations and visits to the Family Birth Center, the visitor may order food from the cafeteria and have it delivered to the patient’s room.
• Visitation exceptions may be made based on specific situations such as end-of-life and the patient’s care provision requirements at the time of the visit request.
These updated visitation policies will remain in place until further notice; however, it is important to remember that an increased surge of COVID-19 patients in our community may cause visitation restrictions to be reinstated. The hospital will issue communication when the restrictions are lifted or modified.