Cleveland, OH,
01
December
2020
|
15:00 PM
America/New_York

MetroHealth Makes Changes to Visitation Policy Amid Surge in Cases

Cleveland - Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, The MetroHealth System has made changes to the visitation policies at our clinics. These changes will take effect on December 2 to decrease community spread and protect our vulnerable populations and healthcare workers.

General Visitation Policy

All patients and accompanying guardians and caregivers must wear a face mask or covering for the duration of the visit.

  • Children under the age of two should not wear a face mask or covering. Children over the age of two are encouraged to wear a face mask or other comfortable covering.
  • Patients who are unable to wear a face mask because of a medical condition (rare occurrence)
    • Will be offered a telephone or video visit if appropriate to meet patient care need
    • Will be offered a face shield

Inpatient Visitation

  • No visitors are allowed. A limited number of exceptions are listed below.
  • All visitors permitted on an inpatient unit must stay in the patient’s room for the duration of the visit.
  • Length of time for visitation will be individualized and take into consideration what is in the best interest of patient care and safety of patients and employees.

EXCEPTIONS (must be approved by attending physician and nurse manager):

  • Adult patients
    • With altered mental status, cognitive impairment, developmental delays, or disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to their care, may have one consistent visitor for length of time cleared by attending physician and nurse manager.
    • Undergoing surgery or procedure may have one visitor accompany them for immediate pre and post-operative period.
  • Obstetric patients may have one adult support person at all times.
  • Pediatric patients may have parents or guardians, not to exceed two visitors, for length of time cleared by attending.
  • Nursery/Neonatal Intensive Care patients may have birth parent plus one significant-other visit as cleared by attending. Visitors to the nursery/NICU may also be subject to other location-specific requirements.
  • All patients who are at the end-of-life may have up to two visitors, for length of time cleared by attending physician and nurse manager.

Inpatient Visitation – Suspected or COVID-19 Positive

  • During the course of care, visitation will be limited to telephone and video connections. To limit exposure and spread of COVID-19, in-person visits are not routinely permitted.
  • During end-of-life, critical decision making or at the discretion of the attending physician and nurse manager:
    • Family members will be offered and encouraged to utilize alternative visitation methods such as telephonic and video visitation or visiting at the window of the patient’s room.
    • No more than two visitors will be permitted with approval of the attending physician and nurse manager and with the following safety precautions in place:
      • Family member who wants to be at patient bedside is encouraged to speak with his/her primary care physician to discuss the personal risks associated with a bedside visit.
      • Visitation will be scheduled between the visitor and care team.
      • Visitor will be provided with surgical mask, face shield, gown, and gloves and will be assisted by staff member in donning and doffing.
      • Staff member will accompany the visitor into the patient room and be present during the visit.

Ambulatory & Express Care Visitation

  • Pediatric patients may have two parents, guardians or designated caregivers accompany them to their visit
  • Pediatric patient siblings may attend visit when childcare is not available.
  • Adult patients
    • Are encouraged to attend visits alone.
    • If necessary, may have one visitor accompany them for personal or medical support, e.g. altered mental status, cognitive impairment, developmental delays, or disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to support medical care, or oncology visits where prognosis and/or changes in treatment plan is being discussed.
    • May bring children to their visit when childcare is not available.
  • Patients having outpatient surgery may have one support person / visitor on the day of surgery.

Emergency Department Visitation

  • Pediatric patients may have two adult parent, guardian or designated caregiver accompany them during evaluation in the Emergency Department.
  • Adult patients
    • Are encouraged to attend visits alone.
    • If necessary, may have one visitor accompany them for personal or medical support, e.g. altered mental status, cognitive impairment, developmental delays, or disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to support medical care
  • Behavioral health patients that require guardianship may have 1 consistent adult visitor accompany them.
  • Maternity patients may have one adult support person.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

  • Caregiver visitation may be scheduled at the discretion of the multi-disciplinary team with Attending Physician approval to facilitate home-going trainings and other key rehabilitation activities.

For questions or additional information, please visit https://www.metrohealth.org/patients-and-visitors/visitation-policy.

About The MetroHealth System

Founded in 1837, MetroHealth is leading the way to a healthier you and a healthier community through service, teaching, discovery, and teamwork. Cuyahoga County’s public, safety-net hospital system, MetroHealth meets people where they are, providing care through five hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers. Each day, our nearly 9,000 employees focus on providing our community with equitable healthcare — through patient-focused research, access to care, and support services — that seeks to eradicate health disparities rooted in systematic barriers. For more information, visit metrohealth.org.