CHI Memorial Is Latest Local Hospital To Further Tighten Visitation; Joining Erlanger And Parkridge

  • Thursday, March 19, 2020

CHI Memorial said it will have a new visitation policy in effect at noon on Thursday.  The health system "is adopting a highly restrictive visitation policy designed to protect our patients and associates."

 

The following changes will remain in effect until further notice.

 

  • No visitors will be allowed in the in-patient setting.
  • Outpatient procedures/surgery or outpatient testing: 1 visitor allowed.
  • End-of-life:  1 visitor, 1 minister is allowed, if requested by a designated caregiver.
  • Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and medical decision-makers will be available by phone.

 

Greeters will be screening at the designated entrances with a list of basic questions to help ensure that individuals who might spread the virus get the care they need while not exposing patients, staff, and other guests.  Until the COVID pandemic has subsided:

 

  • People with fever, cough, sore throat, or other flu-like symptoms are not permitted to visit any area of the hospital.
  • People who have traveled to high-risk areas for COVID-19 or had contact with a person know to be infected with COVID-19 are not permitted to visit any area of the hospital.
  • No school age children will be permitted to visit our hospital campuses – CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga, CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson, and CHI Memorial Hospital Georgia.
  • We respectfully request caregivers stay in the patient’s room the entire time of the visit except to obtain meals.  No congregating in public spaces, lobbies or lounges.

 

CHI Memorial officials said, "During this time, visitors may want to consider alternative communication options, if available, such as phone, Facetime, Skype, text, or email.

 

"We understand this change in policy may be difficult for families, but it is imperative we take additional precautions to keep our patients and community safe during this global pandemic." 

Erlanger officials said, "Erlanger has implemented a No Visitor Policy.

To ensure a safe environment for patients and visitors during the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Erlanger Health System has instituted a highly-restricted No Visitor policy, effective March 18.

·         Only Erlanger adult or pediatric patients who require the presence of a care partner—as determined by that patient’s medical team—will be permitted to have a visitor.

·         A care partner is defined as a family member, guardian, or friend appointed by the patient who is included as a member of the care team and accepts mutually-agreed upon patient care responsibilities during and between specific episodes of care.

·         Approval to enter any Erlanger facility will be done on a case-by-case basis.

Those who meet the above criteria and have been medically screened at our hospital entrances will be permitted to stay with their loved one in the hospital.

Other family members and friends are strongly encouraged to use alternative forms of communication with their loved ones while they are hospitalized, like telephone, FaceTime, SnapChat, etc.

Parkridge Medical Center, Parkridge East Hospital, Parkridge West Hospital and all Parkridge Valley Hospital locations will continue restricting visitors from entering their facilities.

Exceptions will be made for the following circumstances with one visitor per patient:

Spouse/partner/relative of patient being treated
Spouse/partner of a maternity patient
Hospice or palliative care patients
Behavioral Health visits will require a physician’s order for any visitor

Visitors will continue to be screened at facility entrances and will be asked to defer their visits if any COVID-19 symptoms are present. Please note that visitation policies and screening procedures are subject to change without notice.

For more information about Parkridge Health’s response to COVID-19, visit ParkridgeHealth.com/covid-19.

CHI Memorial is adjusting its visitation policy and canceling public group meetings to assure the health and safety of all patients, staff, physicians, and the community at large. The following changes will remain in effect until further notice

Visitation:

·Patients who have COVID-19 symptoms or who are active COVID-19 patients may not have visitors.

·To protect the safety and well-being of all our patients and to comply with the CDC’s recommendations for social distancing, we request patients designate only one adult visitor.

·Each visitor will be screened upon entry. Visitors with fever, cough, sore throat or other flu-like symptoms are not permitted to visit any area of the hospital until the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided. People who have traveled to high-risk areas for COVID-19 or had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 are not permitted to visit any area of the hospital until the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.

· We ask that school age children refrain from visiting our hospital campuses – CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga, CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson and CHI Memorial Hospital Georgia.

·Patients who are at the end-of-life may have two visitors.

·Community clergy will not be permitted to visit patients except in end-of-life cases. In addition to two family members, one minister may be present at the end-of-life of a patient if requested by a designated family member.

·We respectfully request visitors stay in the patient’s room the entire time of the visit except to obtain meals.

· A visitor to the ICU or day surgery/procedure must remain in the assigned waiting area the entire time of the visit except to visit their patient or to obtain meals.

·CHI Memorial chaplains and priest are available to provide spiritual care to patients and visitors daily.

· The entrance to CHI Memorial Rees Skillern Cancer Institute (Entrance D) at CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga has been closed. Only oncology patients, our most vulnerable patients, and their accompanying visitor will be permitted to enter through Entrance D.

·To protect the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors, physicians and staff and to more effectively screen for COVID-19, front and back entrances of CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson are now closed. The Emergency Department/Outpatient Entrance will remain the only open entrance and routine exit until the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. 

·As per our regular policy, only the Emergency Department entrance on our three campuses is open at night.

·ICU visitation times remain in effect with above criteria.

Due to an abundance of caution, the CDC’s recommendations for social distancing, and our concern for the safety and well-being of our patients and community at large, we are suspending the following:

    • All support group meetings held by CHI Memorial Center for Cancer Support until further notice.
    • CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care educational seminars and support group meetings until further notice
    • Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC) meetings until further notice
    • Breathe Easy mobile lung CT community screenings. The mobile CT will be utilized at 5 different campuses through the end of April performing all CT's except those which are STAT or that require contrast of any kind. We anticipate resuming normal operations in May.
    • MaryEllen Locher Breast Center mobile mammography screening programs in the community. We anticipate resuming normal operations in May.
    • CHI Memorial Foundation’s 20th Cam Busch Art for Health Series. The March event has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2020.
    • CHI Memorial Foundation’s 8th Annual Elizabeth’s Outrun Melanoma 5K and Walk. The April event has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2020.
    • Tennessee Breast & Cervical Screening committee meetings until further notice
    • Diabetic Food Care Lunch & Learn on March 18

For more information on how to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, visit memorial.org/coronavirus or cdc.gov/coronavirus

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