COVID-19 in Ohio: Adena Health System tightens visitor restrictions

CHILLICOTHE — With inpatient volumes at hospitals and positive coronavirus cases continuing to rise, Adena Health System has announced plans to once again tighten visitor restrictions in an effort to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

“One-third of all confirmed positive coronavirus cases in Ohio since February have occurred in the last two weeks,” said Chief Clinical Officer Kirk Tucker, MD in a statement. “That shows you the magnitude of this current surge. It is trends like this that our clinical and operations teams examine closely and make decisions that are in the best interest of our patients, visitors, physicians and staff.”

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He added, “This is why Adena is moving back to a tightening of our visitor restrictions. It is important to know that we were unanimous in our plan not to go to a zero visitor policy at this time. Having zero visitors is bad for patient morale, but also creates challenges with staff coordinating patient discharge plans with family members or support persons not present.”

The restrictions include one named visitor on non-COVID inpatient units per day during the limited visiting hours and one named visitor in emergency departments for non-COVID suspected or confirmed patients.  

One named visitor will be allowed for inpatient maternity, labor and delivery, pediatrics COVID patients per patient including minor patients. One visitor for a non-COVID patient with the exception of minor patients will be allowed one parent in addition to one named visitor.

A visitor acting in the role of caretaker for a non-COVID patient will be allowed access if they meet requirements set by the clinical team.

No visitation will be allowed for confirmed or suspected inpatients with COVID-19 except during the end of life. In this situation, up to two visitors will be allowed for immediate family.

Adena will allow one visitor for elective surgery patients who are going home after the procedure. But only visitors approved by the clinical team will be allowed into the ICU and no visitors will be permitted to the inpatient behavioral health unit. 

Throughout the health system, no visitors under the age of 18 will be permitted. Inpatients are allowed one visit with their own clergy for a brief spiritual visit if requested by the patient and their family.

There will be no visitors for outpatient and ambulatory clinic visits and testing except for a few circumstances.

First, if the patient is a minor they will be allowed two visitors that are limited to parents or guardians. New mothers with lifting restrictions will be allowed a visitor at the obstetrician and pediatric clinics. Also at the OB clinic, one support person may attend the initial ultrasound and 20-week visit with the expectant mother.

At the pulmonary clinic, one visitor is permitted for patients struggling with ambulatory issues. Patients with significant physical or mental disabilities will also be allowed a support person. A support person required for care planning or to support disease management such as a cancer diagnosis must be approved by the provider in advance. The final exemption is a patient who was brought in by transport.

Due to space limitations in relation to social distancing, waiting room areas are closed to visitors. Visitors will not be permitted to loiter in the hospital and must remain in the patient's room at all times.

All visitors are required to participate in the COVID-19 screening process at entrances. They're also asked to wear a mask, maintain social distancing and follow hand hygiene guidelines. Masks must also be worn while inside patient rooms.

Adena Regional Medical Center visiting hours be limited from 2 to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Adena's visitor policy is available to view at www.adena.org/VisitorPolicy.

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