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COVID-19 patients will no longer be allowed to have visitors at Cape Fear Valley Health

Fayetteville Observer - 8/18/2021

Aug. 18—Patients with COVID-19 will no longer be allowed visitors, Cape Fear Valley Health announced Tuesday.

The change and other revisions to the visitation policy go into effect Wednesday, according to a statement released by Cape Fear Valley Health.

"Our hospitals are seeing tremendous growth in the number of COVID patients, and the numbers are growing at a rapid speed," said Chief Operations Officer Daniel Weatherly. "As we continue to experience more of this growth, we may look at stricter visitation policies in the future."

Inpatients without COVID-19 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center, Bladen County Hospital and Hoke Hospital will only be allowed one visitor a day, between 4 and 8 p.m. Visitors must be at least 16.

Only one overnight visitor will be allowed per patient and will count as that patient's one visitor for that day, and a new visitor will not be allowed to visit until the following day, between 4 and 8 p.m.

Cape Fear Valley Health is strongly encouraging patients' family and friends to conduct virtual visitations, such as video and/or phone calls. Phone or video call assistance can be arranged through the patient's nurses' station.

All personnel at Cape Fear Valley Health locations are required to wear a face mask, with the exception of HealthPlex. The HealthPlex location only requires masks for unvaccinated visitors.

If visitors refuse to wear a face mask at all times, they will be asked to leave. Neck gaiters are not allowed. All visitors will be asked to answer and pass a brief verbal questionnaire and temperature scan before being allowed inside. Anyone who refuses to answer the questionnaire or has a temperature above 100.3 Fahrenheit will not be allowed inside.

Also, hospital cafeterias will be closed to non-employees.

The following are restrictions for the health system:

— Patients going through surgery will be allowed one visitor in the pre-op area and surgical waiting room, as long as they arrive with the patient. If a patient is in the post-anesthesia care unit waiting to be admitted to the hospital, the visitor is allowed to wait with them.

— Inpatients without COVID-19 awaiting surgery can have one visitor during visiting hours. The visitor may stay with the patient overnight and remain with the patient until surgery.

Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital surgical patients can only have one person waiting in the lobby during the procedure.

— Visitors will not be allowed in the emergency department unless the patient is not able to provide an accurate history of themselves or they are not their own caregiver. At that time a care companion will be allowed.

— Labor and delivery patients will only be allowed to have one other person in the room with them, to include a doula. The person in the room must be at least 16. The person in the room will not be allowed to switch with someone else, and cannot leave and come back.

— Patients in the family care unit can only have one person say overnight, and they cannot leave and comeback or be switched out with anyone.

— Only two identified banded visitors are allowed in the family center nursery and can visit at any time. Overnight stays are not allowed.

— Only two visitors will be allowed per patient in the pediatrics and the pediatric intensive care unit and must be over the age of 18. Only one guardian is allowed to stay overnight, and only one additional visitor is allowed between 4 and 8 p.m.

— Only one guardian is allowed in the pediatric emergency department with their child and only one person may come past the waiting room with the child for triage. Once the child is in the treatment room, the second guardian can join.

— Only two identified banded visitors are allowed in the neonatal intensive care unit and can visit at any time. Overnight stays are not allowed.

— Only one visitor is allowed at a time in the oncology and oncology clinics, but no visitors are allowed inside the chemotherapy area.

— Only one visitor per patient is allowed at the Fayetteville Ambulatory Surgical Center or inside outpatient clinics.

— One visitor per patient will be allowed from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday at Cape Fear Valley Behavioral Health Care and either from 2 to 5 p.m. or 7 to 9 p.m. on weekends.

— One COVID-19 vaccinated visitor per day is allowed from 4 to 8 p.m. for long-term acute care patients at Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital.

— End of life patients who do not have COVID-19 are allowed up to four visitors at a time. COVID-19 patients at end of life are allowed to be visited by two immediate family members, for a one-time, two-hour duration. End of life patients are patients with less than 24-hours to live.

Health and education writer Ariana-Jasmine Castrellon can be reached at acastrellon@gannett.com or 910-486-3561.

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