To protect their patients, caregivers and community from the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, the following new patient visitation guidelines will go into effect Monday, March 16, at 1 p.m.:
- Visitors who are experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever or cough should not come to the hospital or outpatient practices.
- Patients at the hospitals, outpatient services and the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute may have one visitor or support person at a time. Additional visitors must wait outside of the building and not in the lobby or waiting areas. This does not apply to laboring mothers, the neonatal intensive care unit, or patients in hospice or palliative care.
Hospital visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. - All visitors to the hospital will be screened for coronavirus risk before they are allowed to enter. Visitors who have symptoms or do not meet the screening criteria will not be allowed to enter the hospital.
- Hospital visitors must be age 16 or older.
- We also recommend that older adults who may be especially vulnerable to illness refrain from visiting loved ones in the hospital.
- The screening consists of a series of questions related to symptoms, travel history and potential exposure. The screen is not a lab test. It is based on the most current guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
We encourage people to explore alternate ways of connecting with their loved ones who are patients in the hospital, including video and phone visits.
We understand that these restrictions are challenging for families who wish to visit and be with their loved ones. However, these restrictions are designed to protect patients, their loved ones and health care workers during this time of coronavirus, influenza and other respiratory illnesses circulating in our community.
What to do if you are concerned you may have coronavirus
ChristianaCare would like to remind the public that most people who are experiencing coronavirus symptoms do not need to go to the emergency department.
Please do not go to the emergency department unless you are experiencing symptoms that are severe or life-threatening. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911.
If you are concerned you have coronavirus, please do NOT show up at your doctor’s office. Instead, please call your doctor and ask if it is appropriate for you to keep or make an appointment, and get instructions from your doctor.
These steps help us to protect your safety and the safety of others.
Source: ChristianaCare
