In accordance with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s directive this afternoon, the Peninsula Regional Health System (PRHS), operating Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital and the McCready Health Pavilion, today announced an enhanced COVID-19 Patient Safety and Visitation Policy. Foremost in the plan, if you’re not feeling well or if you don’t have to visit, in particular during this time of COVID-19, please don’t visit.
In an effort to protect staff, patients, visitors and community, PRHS, at the request of the Governor, will be implementing additional precautions and practices starting Friday, March 13.
They include:
o Visiting hours restricted to Noon until 8:00 p.m. at Nanticoke and Peninsula Regional. These will be implemented starting on Monday, March 16.
The remainder of these changes will begin on Friday, March 13.
o No visitors under the age of 18 unless they are parents of hospitalized children. This includes infants and siblings across all areas of the hospitals.
o Limit of one visitor per patient. Only one person may accompany a patient into the hospital or into any of PRHS’s physician offices or immediate care centers. Additional visitors will not be permitted in the building and may not stay in lobbies or waiting areas. They may visit, but only after the first person has completed their visit and left the building.
o Visitors are required to check in at the front desk of any location.
o Visitors may be screened for flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat). Those exhibiting symptoms will be asked to leave and referred to their primary care provider. They will not be allowed to visit.
o If screening questions determine a visitor has traveled internationally, they will not be allowed to visit patients until after 14 days back in the United States.
o Labor and Delivery will be restricted to two visitors including the professional support person/post-partum helper.
Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis for situations including events such as end of life. PRHS encourages friends, family and loved ones to use electronic devices and applications (phones, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) to keep in contact with patients.
Enhanced safety precautions remain in place at the Chesapeake Cove Assisted Living Center and the Tawes Nursing Home in Crisfield. Visitation is restricted to one person, per visit, per resident at either facility, and limited only to those above the age of 18. All people visiting will be screened upon entry at the reception desk for cold, flu-like or respiratory symptoms, and asked a series of questions about international travel, recent contact with others who have been ill and if they are employed at a healthcare facility.
Peninsula Regional Health System thanks our visitors for their help in keeping our patients, staff and other visitors healthy. Your best protection against COVID-19 is to continue washing and sanitizing your hands. Use soap and water for 20 seconds and alcohol-based hand gel frequently.
For the latest information on how PRHS facilities are prepared for COVID-19, please visit either of our websites at www.peninsula.org or www.nanticoke.org. If you have questions, please call 211 or visit health.maryland.gov/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov for up-to-date information and resources, including the latest information on COVID-19.
In the future, the Peninsula Regional Health System may adjust this policy, including and up to a complete ban on visitation, based on COVID-19 virus prominence in and around our region.
