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Atrium Health Navicent altering its visitation policy due to respiratory viruses

The policy will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

MACON, Ga. — Atrium Health Navicent is altering its visitation policy due to an uptick in respiratory viruses such as RSV and the flu. The latest policy will prohibit visitors under the age of 12-year-old.  

The changes to the visitation policy will begin on Nov. 16. The policy changes apply to the following hospitals. 

  • Atrium Health Navicent 
  • Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital
  • Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center
  • Atrium Health Navicent Peach
  • Atrium Heath Navicent Baldwin
  • Monroe County Hospital, an Atrium Health Navicent Partner
  • Atrium Health Navicent Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Atrium Health Navicent emergency rooms, urgent care centers, clinics and diagnostics centers

Guidelines

  • Visitation hours will be held 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. 
  • General inpatient may have four  visitors, daily. 
  • One(1) adult visitor/caregiver over the age of 18 years of age may stay with the patient from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. 
  • Intensive Care may have two visitors/caregivers at the bedside at a time. One visitor may stay overnight.
  • Visitors under the age of 12 are not permitted, including for the birth of a sibling

Visitors must:

  • Wear a mask that always covers their nose and mouth.
  • Be screened at the front entrance of the hospital.
  • Be in good health (free of respiratory illness, fever cough, etc.)
  • Follow social distancing and safety guidance. This includes wearing masks, staying six feet from others and hand washing. 
  • Visitors may choose to wear additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which will be made available upon request.
  • Patients having surgery may have visitors with them until they are in their patient room, even if they arrive before 8 a.m. Patients under 18 may have two parents or guardians visit any time of day.
  • Patients at Atrium Health Navicent Rehabilitation Hospital may have no more than four  visitors at a time and visiting hours are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
  • Patients in Labor and Delivery (active labor before delivery) may have two visitors in addition to a partner and birth coach.
  • Patients receiving treatments for cancer are often immunocompromised and more vulnerable to infection. In this case, patients will not be allowed visitors if they have COVID-19 or might have COVID-19.

Special Considerations

  • Special circumstances will be managed by the treating physician and nursing unit leadership. 
  • Patients in hospice or palliative care may have two (2) visitors at a time at the bedside and one (1) visitor overnight.

Exceptions, as determined by the treating physician and facility leadership, may include: 

  • End-of-life circumstances
  • Communication barriers
  • Caregiver / Decision-making assistance needed
  • Physical, Emotional, or psychiatric concerns where a caregiver is necessary.
  • Children may be permitted to visit hospitalized patients under special circumstances such as visiting a dying family member. In these instances, parents and guardians should coordinate with the treating physician and nursing unit leadership.

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