PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Healthcare hospital has announced temporary restrictions on routine visits to the hospital campus and clinics to help ensure the health and safety of patients, staff and the community amid the coronavirus outbreak.
All routine/discretionary patient visits have been suspended, and cafeteria use is for hospital staff only during this time, according to a press release. Additionally, all support groups, Wellness Center classes and Exercise for Health Classes are postponed until further notice.
Visitation exceptions include:
• One partner and one consistent birth support person are allowed in the Family Birth Center.
• Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays where a caregiver provides safety can have
one consistent visitor.
• Patients with disruptive behavior, in which a family member is key to their care, can have one consistent visitor.
• Patients undergoing surgery or procedures can have one consistent visitor who must leave the hospital as soon
as possible after the procedure/surgery.
• Patients who have an appointment at a hospital-based clinic, laboratory or in radiology, as well as those visiting
the emergency department, can have one consistent person with them.
• one consistent visitor is allowed in the intensive care unit.
• End-of-life care is under a two visitors at a time guideline. Exceptions will be made in consultation with the hospitalists.
• Patients with suspected positive COVID-19 diagnosis may not have visitors, including family.
For those visiting patients, anyone with upper respiratory symptoms — including fever, sore throat or cough — should postpone visits until they feel better. Those who have recently been exposed to COVID-19, are asked to wait 14 days after exposure before visiting any patients.
Anyone entering the hospital must sign in at the main central registration, waterside entrance, express clinic or emergency department and receive a visitor badge before going to patient rooms.
The purpose of this temporary policy is to keep people safe from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, and to make sure limited supplies of personal protective equipment are preserved for patient care.
These policies will remain in effect until COVID-19 is no longer a threat to patients, staff and community.
