By Cara Beth Lewis
Twenty states in the United States have banned proof-of-vaccination requirements. All 20 states—Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming—have Republican governors. North Carolina is not one of the states that have banned proof-of-vaccination requirements, and there are people who are not happy about it.
Mickey Durden was a patient at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in December. When her niece tried to visit her, she was told that proof of vaccination was required.
Several things transpired following that incident, but it all stemmed from Ms. Durden and her niece’s belief that providing proof of vaccination to visit a loved one was an invasion of privacy and “none of their business,” according to Durden.
Online, Southeastern Regional Medical Center states that as of September 21st, all visitors are required to show proof of vaccination at the time of check-in. However, this is not the case at all hospitals. According to Cape Fear Valley Health’s website and a representative on the phone, proof of vaccination is not required to enter their facilities.
View SERMC’s Visitation Policy Below:
- UNC Health Southeastern has expanded visitation for the medical center, allowing two fully-vaccinated visitors at a time for non-COVID-19 patients while COVID-19 positive patients will be allowed one fully-vaccinated visitor per day.
- Other changes to the guidelines include one fully-vaccinated visitor for Emergency Department patients. Laboring mothers are allowed two visitors, and two parents or legal guardians are allowed for minor patients. In both cases, one visitor will be allowed to remain with the patient after visiting hours have ended each day.
- All medical center visitors must be age 18 or older and are required to be screened, present a valid photo I.D., and show proof of vaccination. All approved visitors must wear their visitor badge at all times.
- Visiting hours remain 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Some vaccination exceptions apply in cases of birthing mothers, pediatric patients, end-of-life situations and patients with cognitive challenges.
- UNC Health Southeastern clinics and outpatient affiliates will allow one visitor per patient.
WoodHaven Nursing, Alzheimer’s and Rehabilitation Center allows visitation, daily, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
To learn more, call UNC Health Southeastern Patient Relations at (910) 671-5592.
Starting January 2022
Visitors are now required to wear a surgical grade face mask, which will be provided if necessary, instead of cloth masks or face coverings while inside UNC Health Southeastern facilities. The mask must be worn correctly, covering nose and mouth, with the metal nose piece conforming to the bridge of the nose.
To view Cape Fear Valley’s visitation policy in detail, click here: Cape Fear Valley Health Visitation Policy.
The “No Patient Left Alone Act” acknowledges that many patients of hospitals and other healthcare facilities have suffered unfair consequences due to COVID-19, preventing them from having companionship and support from a loved one in person due to strict visitation policies. The Act states, “the General Assembly finds that it is in the interest of the State and its residents that these patients and residents of health care facilities, in compliance with the rules, regulations, and guidelines of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and federal law, should not be denied visitation by visitors of their choosing throughout the period of hospitalization or residential treatment.”
To read the No Patient Left Alone Act in its entirety, click here: No Patient Left Alone .
While rules and regulations are set in place for the protection of patients and hospital staff, the No Patient Left Alone Act serves to protect in-hospital patients from isolation. Facilities that violate a patient’s rights as listed in this law are subject to penalty.
The BladenOnline team also found the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance for the public about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule and how it applies to requests for information about whether a person has received a COVID-19 vaccine.
In a press release, OCR Director Lisa Pino said, “We are issuing this guidance to help consumers, businesses, and health care entities understand when HIPAA applies to disclosures about COVID-19 vaccination status and to ensure that they have the information they need to make informed decisions about protecting themselves and others from COVID-19.”
In the guidance, there is a question, “Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule prohibit businesses or individuals from asking whether their customers or clients have received a COVID-19 vaccine?”
The United States Health and Human Services answered, “No. The Privacy Rule2 does not prohibit any person (e.g., an individual or an entity such as a business), including HIPAA-covered entities and business associates, from asking whether an individual has received a particular vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines.”
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