Atrium Health Navicent Updates Visitor Restrictions to Allow Visitors Under Age 12
After observing a steady decrease in respiratory virus cases, Atrium Health Navicent is lifting certain visitor restrictions and modifying masking policies.
Beginning at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, restrictions limiting visitors aged 12 and under will be removed. Also, masking will be optional in all Atrium Health facilities with the exception of specific areas where patients are at greater risk, such as Atrium Health Navicent Peyton Anderson Cancer Center and emergency rooms. Masks will remain available for anyone who chooses to wear one.
Visitors of all ages should not visit if they are experiencing any symptoms of respiratory viral illness or have a confirmed case of COVID-19, flu or RSV. To reduce the chances of getting sick, including respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu or RSV, health care leaders recommend good hand hygiene including frequent handwashing with soap and warm water or the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with your hands.
Atrium Health continues to encourage all patients, teammates and the community to stay up to date with all recommended COVID-19, flu, RSV and other vaccines recommended by your health care provider.
Visitation guidelines are subject to change at any time. Visitors include those who are visiting/accompanying patients.
Guidelines are as follows:
Visitation hours will be held 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Intensive care units at Atrium Health Navicent hospitals may have two (2) visitors/caregivers at the bedside at a time. One (1) visitor may stay overnight.
Visitors must:
Be in good health (free of respiratory illness, fever cough, etc.)
Follow all infection prevention and safety guidance.
Patients having surgery may have visitors with them until they are in their patient room, even if they arrive before 8 a.m.
Patients at Atrium Health Navicent Rehabilitation Hospital may have visitors from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Family Birth Center
Patients in Labor and Delivery (active labor before delivery) may have four (4) visitors, at the discretion of the patient, inclusive of a support person and/or birth coach or birthing doula.
Patients in postpartum units (after delivery) may have visitors based on hospital visitation rules. One (1) adult visitor/caregiver over the age of 16 may stay with the patient from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Overnight visitors must stay at the patient’s bedside.
Siblings under age 18 do not count as a visitor.
Patients in triage/OB assessment may have one (1) visitor. All visitors must be age 16 or older.
One (1) support person may accompany a patient inside the c-section and operating suites, and in the post-anesthesia care unit/recovery area. No additional visitors are allowed.
No visitors are allowed in the Nursery.
Family Birth Center visitation guidelines may be adjusted as needed to meet patient care needs.
Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital:
Patients admitted to general inpatient units may have up to four (4) visitors/caregivers at the bedside during the day, including siblings of any age. From 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., up to two (2) adult visitors/caregivers over the age of 18 may stay with the patient.
Patients in Pediatric Critical Care Units (PICU/CVICU) may have two (2) visitors/caregivers at the bedside at any given time. Visitation is open to siblings age 13 and older. In special circumstances, younger sibling visits may be arranged at the discretion of the treating physician and nursing unit leadership.
Neonatal Unit patients may have two (2) visitors/caregivers at the bedside at any time. Siblings aged 2 and older may visit.
Masking
Masking is required in emergency room waiting and triage areas. Masking is also required in infusion centers and certain cancer care areas. Masking may also be required in rooms where highly infectious patients with a respiratory virus, such as COVID-19, are being cared for or any area or unit with an identified cluster of illness.
Patients who are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness such as COVID-19, flu or RSV, or who have had a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 in the past 10 days, should wear a well-fitted mask that covers their nose and mouth. Visitors who are experiencing symptoms are asked to stay at home.
Patients and visitors at Atrium Health Navicent facilities may be asked to wear a mask at any time, based on the type of symptoms being experienced by a patient or circumstances specific to their patient population or practice at any given location.
Patients may also request their direct care team wear a mask if it makes them feel more comfortable.
Special Considerations:
Special circumstances will be managed by the treating physician and nursing unit leadership.
Patients in hospice or palliative care may have two (2) visitors at a time at the bedside and one (1) visitor overnight.
Exceptions, as determined by the treating physician and facility leadership, may include:
End of life circumstances
Communication barriers
Caregiver/decision making assistance needed
Physical, emotional or psychiatric concerns where a caregiver is necessary
Respiratory Viral Illness Patients:
Patients exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness including influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 may have visitors. Visitors must wear a mask and may wear other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including a gown, gloves, and eye protection, which will be provided upon request. The visitor must stay in the patient’s room at all times with the door closed and will utilize a designated restroom based on the patient’s location. Visitors are urged to eat prior to arrival, but to remain at least six (6) feet away from the patient before removing a mask to eat. At the conclusion of the visit, visitors must exit the facility without visiting any other location.
Other Considerations:
Overnight visitors must stay at the patient’s bedside. If a patient needs an in-room procedure that requires the visitor to leave the room, the visitor may wait in the hallway outside the patient’s room. Some intensive care units lack the capacity for overnight visitors. In these units, overnight visitors are at the discretion of unit leadership. Some visitors arrive with patients via entrances other than the main visitor entrance (ex. surgery, emergency and heart procedures). In the event a patient who entered through any entrance other than the main visitor entrance is admitted and the visitor chooses to stay overnight, the visitor must check-in at the main entrance and receive a visitor band during visiting hours (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.). If the patient is admitted after visiting hours, the visitor may stay overnight and check-in at the main entrance during the next day’s visiting hours.
This visitation policy applies to Atrium Health Navicent locations, including:
Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital
Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center
Atrium Heath Navicent Baldwin
Atrium Health Navicent Peach
Atrium Health Navicent Rehabilitation Hospital
Atrium Health Navicent emergency rooms, urgent care centers, clinics and diagnostics centers
All facilities may be accessed through their main lobbies and/or emergency centers. Individuals with cough, fever, shortness of breath or other flu-like symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting.
Atrium Health Navicent recognizes that interacting with loved ones can be helpful to the healing process. Wi-Fi access is available, allowing patients to also participate in video chats and phone calls on cell phones or other mobile devices. The health of our patients and the community is the highest concern at Atrium Health Navicent.
For the latest information about Atrium Health Navicent, including our visitation policy, please visit [www.NavicentHealth.org]www.NavicentHealth.org