Archives for visitors

visitors

Hamilton Medical Center Implementing Plan to Safely Open Back Up, Allowing Limited Visitation

May 18, 2020

Beginning Monday, May 18, limited visitation (Español) will be allowed for Hamilton Medical Center patients who desire a visit and can safely receive a visit.

“Certainly, many people have delayed care during the last few months due to COVID-19,” said Sandy McKenzie, COO. “We know how important a support person can be, and not being able to have that person around likely has discouraged people in coming to the hospital. We have been monitoring the COVID activity in our community and are now ready to adjust our restrictions to allow limited visitation. We’re taking many extra steps to keep you and our associates safe.”

Hamilton is following CDC guidelines and has put many measures in place to help keep you safe. When patients arrive at HMC, they are greeted by a staff member who will take their temperature, screen for COVID-19 symptoms and provide hand sanitizer and a face mask if the patient doesn’t already have one.

Visitors must enter through the main entrance (accessible from Memorial Drive) and will be screened, including a temperature check and COVID-19 symptom and exposure screening.

Visitations will be limited to one support person, 18 or older, from 9 to 10 a.m., 12 to 1 p.m., or 5 to 6 p.m. The visiting hour cannot be split with other people. Once a person has checked in to visit a room, no one else will be allowed to enter until the next visiting hour.

Everyone who enters the hospital will need to wear a mask or face covering. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own mask or face covering as long as it is not soiled or dirty.

HMC screening staff will provide a visitor’s badge that must be worn at all times during the visit. Visitors are not permitted in areas other than the designated room of the patient they are visiting, and only during the visiting hour.

Emergency Department, surgical and endoscopy patients may have one support person with them provided that they meet the visitation qualifications. Visitors in the Emergency Department must stay with the patient while in the department. The support person for surgical and endoscopy patients must wait in designated waiting areas or in their vehicle after coordinating with staff.

If an Emergency Department, surgical or endoscopy patient is admitted to a patient floor at HMC, the support person must exit and re-enter through the main entrance during one of the visiting hours.

Labor and delivery patients may have one support person (spouse, partner, doula, etc.) for the duration of delivery and postpartum care. The support person must wear a mask or face covering except when in the room alone with mother and baby.

“Though our processes and services look and feel different now, we’re committed to providing the safest and highest level of care,” said McKenzie. “We are here and ready to meet your healthcare needs.”

Safety Measures at Hamilton Medical Center

Screening for COVID-19 symptoms at the door

Separate care areas for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients

Proper personal protective equipment for staff members

Social distancing

Sanitizing stations throughout the facility

Xenex germ-zapping robots to disinfect 99.9 percent of dangerous contaminants

Staggered appointments to minimize the number of people in a given area

Face masks provided to all patients and staff members, regardless of symptoms

VISITATION RESTRICTIONS

March 16, 2020

Hamilton Medical Center Visitor Policy in Response to COVID-19

Beginning Monday, March 16, Hamilton Medical Center will further limit visitors at all of its locations in order to protect patients, visitors, and Hamilton staff caring for your loved ones.

The new policy will be in place until the transmission of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is no longer perceived as a threat to patients, staff, and the community.

All visitors will be screened and no visitor will be allowed if they have symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath). Temperature will be checked to verify no fever.
Visitors who have traveled out of the country in affected areas, traveled in communities with widespread COVID-19, or have had a known exposure, will be restricted.
Children under age 17 will not be allowed except under extraordinary circumstances.
Visitors screened must wear the bracelet provided at screening at all times while on the hospital campus. Visitors must be rescreened each day.
Entrances other than the HMC Main Lobby, Emergency Department, and Burkett Lobby (Maternity/Labor & Delivery) will be locked or restricted to authorized staff only.
The HMC Main Lobby entrance will be open from 5:00am – 7:00pm, Monday – Friday and 7:00am – 7:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday. ED and Burkett will remain open 24/7.

As the conditions evolve and as the CDC, CMS, DPH, state and federal authorities recommend, visitor restrictions and precautions may change.

For your safety and the protection of our staff, NO visitors with:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

OR those who have traveled (in the last 21 days) to:

China
Italy
South Korea
Iran
Other areas with known Covid-19 outbreaks

Visits limited to essential visitors age 17 and older (immediate family, partner, or significant other).

World Health Organization CDC Website GA Department of Public Health

Hamilton Begins Temporary Visitor Restriction Due to Increase in Flu Cases

January 3, 2020

Local influenza (flu) cases have risen dramatically in the last few weeks, and for the safety of patients and visitors, Hamilton Medical Center has established temporary visitor restrictions.

So far, Hamilton has treated 707 people with confirmed cases of flu. This time last year (near the end of December 2018), there had only been 39 cases of flu at Hamilton Medical Center.

The flu season typically runs from Oct. 1 to March 31 and usually peaks in February. According to Perri Correll, Infection Prevention director, Hamilton started seeing a significant increase in flu cases the first week of December, one month earlier than last year.

Due to the widespread occurrence of flu in this area, Hamilton is asking for the assistance of community members in supporting a hospitalized loved one’s recovery by limiting visitation during this flu season.

The restrictions include:

No visitors with influenza-like illness, fever, cough or runny nose.
Only essential visitors ages 18 or older (immediate family, partner or significant other).
Patients experiencing flu-like symptoms will need to wear a mask.

“We know limiting visitations is a difficult thing to ask, but because we’re seeing so many flu cases in our area, it’s in the best interest of patients and visitors that we limit visitation during this type of flu season,” Correll said. “There’s simply too much risk of germ exposure at this point. We want to keep everyone as safe as possible.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), typical flu symptoms include fever or feeling feverish and having chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue (tiredness) and in some people, vomiting and diarrhea (though this is more common in children than adults).

“There are a number of ways to prevent the flu,” said Correll. “Though sometimes the flu shot doesn’t seem to be as effective as we’d like it to be, getting the flu shot is still a significant protection against the flu. Proper hand washing, especially after wiping runny noses, is also a key protection.”

In addition, Correll mentioned drinking plenty of water, keeping your hands away from your face, staying away from crowds, getting plenty of rest and eating healthy as ways to keep the flu away.

“It’s also important to stay home when you’re sick so you don’t pass it on to others. It’s not too late to get vaccinated. Flu vaccination is always the best way to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications,” said Correll.

How can we help you?

I want to...

Search by keyword

visitors

Hamilton Medical Center Visitor Policy in Response to COVID-19