Restrictions starting Tuesday
FAYETTEVILLE – Feb. 21, 2022 – Due to improvements in the local positivity rates for COVID-19 and the dropping rate of COVID-19 admissions, Cape Fear Valley Health System’s facilities will loosen visitation restrictions starting Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Patients who have not tested positive for COVID-19 will be allowed two visitors per day, between the hours of noon to 8 p.m. COVID-19 patients will be allowed one visitor per day, between the hours of noon to 8 p.m. and that visitor will not be allowed to come and go during that time.
In the Emergency Department, visitors will not be allowed in the waiting room, but one visitor will be allowed once the patient has been given a room. Visitors to patients in the Emergency Department will be allowed to leave and return.
“We believe this is the right decision at this time due to the current trend in positive test rates and COVID-19 admissions,” said Chief Operating Officer Daniel Weatherly. “Masking requirements for staff and visitors will continue, and we will continue to assess the situation to possibly relax visitation restrictions further if these trends continue. Though we are seeing improving signs, we realize the pandemic is still with us and strongly encourage everyone in the community to get vaccinated and get their booster shot when it’s due.”
Due to the high vulnerability of Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC) patients at Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital, all visitors to those patients must be able to show proof of vaccination.
The following exceptions will be made to this visitation policy:
- Surgery and procedural patients will be allowed two visitors in the pre-op area, or their visitors may wait in the surgical waiting room if arriving with the patient. Visitors for surgery patients may also wait in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit if they are waiting to be admitted to the hospital. Once a surgery patient or procedural patient has been admitted, two visitors can go with the patient to their room.
- Inpatients awaiting surgery or a procedure may have two visitors during visiting hours. Care Companions may stay with the patient overnight and remain until the patient is taken to surgery.
- Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital surgical patients may have two support persons, who may wait in the lobby during the procedure.
- Outpatient clinics and Fayetteville Ambulatory Surgical Center will allow no more than two visitors per patient.
- Labor & Delivery: Laboring mothers may have two support people/visitors for the duration of their stay. If a support person/visitor leaves the premises for any reason, he or she will not be allowed back into the building.
- Family Centered Care Unit: May have two visitors/support people during their entire stay. The two designated visitors/support people may leave and return.
- Pediatric patients: A legal minor may have two parents or guardians with them and the parents/guardians may leave and return.
- Patients who need a healthcare decision maker or require communication assistance may have one Care Companion with them at all times. The Care Companion may be changed one time each day between noon and 8 p.m.
- Cancer Center patients who are having a consultation visit may have two people with them.
- End of Life patients (with or without COVID-19) may have one End of Life visit with up to four family members for a combined total visitation time of one hour. Only two visitors at a time may be present at bedside. In certain circumstances, the nursing supervisor may allow for compassionate exceptions to this rule for End of Life patients.
Even in the above situations, visitors with symptoms of a fever or respiratory illness symptoms, including cough or shortness of breath, should remain home. Visitors and patients in all Cape Fear Valley Health facilities and clinics are required to properly wear a mask provided by the health system at all times. Masks must remain on at all times, even in patients’ rooms, or the visitor will be asked to leave. Cloth masks and neck gaiters are not permitted. This mask policy will be strictly enforced.
All visitors will be screened with a brief verbal questionnaire and a temperature scan before being allowed entry. Those who refuse to answer the questions or who have a temperature above 100.3 Fahrenheit will be denied entry.
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