“We've had a notable rise in COVID-19 cases in Metro Detroit,” said Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology for Beaumont Health. “Last spring, we took care of the most COVID-19 patients in the state and we know that taking difficult steps like restricting visitors will help us keep our patients and our staff safe.”
All Beaumont acute care campuses are safe and remain open to all patients needing health care including emergency visits, testing and surgery, hospital officials said in a prepared statement regarding the new restriction. All emergency rooms at Beaumont facilities will remain open for medical issues that need urgent attention. The local medical leadership at each hospital makes the determination about when to implement visitor restrictions, the statement continued.
No one will be allowed in rooms of patients with pending or positive COVID-19 tests except for individuals who are approaching the end-of-life, patients under 21 years of age, women in labor, or other extreme circumstances where the benefits of presence outweigh the risk of COVID-19 exposure, officials said.
Visitors for other patients have been restricted until further notice. Exceptions only apply if visitors screen negative for symptoms of respiratory infection. Any visitation request that differs from the new guidelines will be reviewed by clinical leadership or the administrator on call. Visitors will be allowed for a mother in labor or with pregnancy complications. A doula in addition to the designated partner is permitted. Visitors will also be allowed for patients 21 or younger. Two parents are permitted with the exception of babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where additional restrictions may be required. The hospital will also allow visitors for patients undergoing a surgical procedure and for adults with cognitive, physical or mental disabilities requiring help.
Officials said that while every site allows a support person to escort a patient into the emergency center, there is site-to-site variation regarding whether the support person may stay after the patient is registered. Additionally, visitors who are permitted are required to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth at all times. Ear loop masks will be provided at each entrance for those who do not have one or if the mask worn does not meet the safety requirements of the hospital.
Those who enter the facility must practice social distancing, keeping 6 feet from others at all times. A person visiting may be asked to leave a care area if safety or social distancing cannot be maintained. Visitors are required to clean their hands upon entry and exit to any patient care area and disposable gloves must be removed and thrown away.
Each person will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to entering the facility. Every person visiting must be free of COVID-19 symptoms, COVID-19 diagnosis and must not be waiting for COVID-19 test results, hospital officials said. Anyone screening positive will not be allowed to visit and those screening negative will be given a sticker that must be worn in the hospital at all times.
