CHCC updates rules on CHC visits, caregivers, ER patient admission

To ensure safer visitation rights for the patients of the Commonwealth Health Center, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp, will be enforcing a revised visitation policy effective last Friday.

According to a news release CHCC issue on Jan. 7, 2022, all visitors, whether vaccinated (no testing required), or unvaccinated and with negative antigen test result, are allowed a maximum of 10 minutes visiting privileges for COVID-negative patients. “This policy is intended to protect our patients due to the current spread of COVID-19 in the community,” the news release stated. Labor and Delivery, Obstetrics, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are excluded from this visitation limit (due to breastfeeding and bonding requirements for a newborn), as well as the Emergency Department.

Antigen test results for unvaccinated visitors are valid for 24 hours only. Should an unvaccinated visitor return after 24 hours to visit a patient, they will be retested and so on.

Additionally, family members or caregivers requested by patients needing moderate to maximum assistance during hospitalization should be fully vaccinated and have a negative antigen result before they are allowed into the room. Only one identified caregiver will be allowed in the room the whole time. Switching of caregivers will not be allowed unless approved by the attending physician, must also be vaccinated, and tested negative on antigen testing.

Furthermore, all patients admitted due to reasons unrelated to COVID-19 (including pediatric and obstetrics patients) will be tested on a PCR COVID-19 testing platform on the third or fifth day of admission to ensure early COVID-19 detection, and that necessary precautions are taken and treatment of anti-viral medication is administered.

The visiting hours are 9am to 11am and 3pm to 5pm. All visitors are reminded to properly use face masks while in the facility. Hospital visiting hours must be adhered to and frequency of visits may be further limited on a case-by-case basis. If a patient has clinical reasons to be denied visitation rights (e.g., the patient is COVID-19 positive), specific policies related to the respective unit will apply.

For patients visiting the emergency room, a screening process for COVID-19 will take place. Symptomatic patients or patients with a recent high-risk COVID-19 exposure will be escorted to the Medical Care and Treatment Site for assessment, while asymptomatic patients will be able to head straight into the waiting area for assessment. All patients will be treated accordingly. (PR)