Winston Medical Center

Temporary Revised Visitation Policy
Updated March 25, 2020

Winston Medical Center is committed to keeping our patients, staff, and visitors safe as we respond to the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As part of our commitment, we are taking proactive measures to help prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 at our facility. Based on the increasing incidence of COVID-19, effective noon on Monday, March 25, and until further notice, Winston Medical Center will implement a revised visitor policy at our hospital facility as follows:

• Patients are not permitted to have any visitors except in certain circumstances outlined below.

The exceptions to this revised visitor policy include:

• Patients who have been determined by the care team to be at the “end-of-life” may be visited by members of the immediate family.
• Patients who have an outpatient appointment at Winston Medical Center, as well as those visiting the Emergency Department, may be accompanied by one visitor if deemed necessary on a case-by-case basis.
• Visitors are not permitted in isolation rooms under any circumstances.
• Every effort will be made to grant requests from a patient or family member for a visit from a chaplain, chaplain intern, Eucharistic minister, community clergy or other spiritual advisor.

Other exceptions not listed above will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

All patients and visitors needing to enter a hospital facility, including for an outpatient appointment at Winston Medical Center will enter through the main Hospital Entrance.

All patients and visitors will be screened at the entrance listed above. Patients who exhibit symptoms associated with respiratory illness (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath) or report they have recently visited an area identified as a location experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak will receive further evaluation to determine next steps. Visitors that meet any of that criteria will not be allowed to enter under any circumstances.

Visitors allowed entrance according to the revised policy or under one of the above listed exceptions must stay in the patients’ room or associated waiting room during the entirety of their visit until ready to leave the facility. Exceptions to this should be requested from and granted by the unit’s nursing staff.

Approved visitors who leave the hospital outside of the revised visiting hours will not be able to re-enter the hospital until the following day. The revised visiting hours are 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. We encourage our patient families to consider remote visits using telephone or video chat. In addition to visitation restrictions, frequent handwashing is always encouraged to protect our patients, employees, and visitors from the spread of germs and viruses. The safety of our patients and personnel is always our top priority, and we will continue to do all we can to ensure a safe environment to give and receive care.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this period of uncertainty together.