Coronavirus: Region’s hospitals update policies on ‘support person,’ screenings, face coverings

DAYTON — Starting today (May 19), patients at Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association member hospitals will be permitted to have one support person with them per day -- provided that adequate social distancing policies can be met, the GDAHA president and CEO said Monday.

Patients will be allowed that one support person for outpatient, ambulatory, ER department and hospital facility service at any of the 29 GDAHA facilities in the 11-county region.

The support person will not be allowed to accompany patients being seen for outpatient testing -- such as non-invasive radiology testing, routine X-rays, and lab studies. Anyone under age 18 also will not be permitted to visit unless they are the parent or legal guardian of a pediatric patient.

GDAHA also updated guidelines at the region’s hospitals on screening and face coverings.

The policy updates are the first since GDAHA implemented visitor restrictions nearly two months ago in an effort to maintain patient safety during the pandemic and protect patients and hospital personnel during the ongoing management of the virus.

“As our region continues to gain a stronger understanding of COVID-19 and how we can best prevent spread in our community, GDAHA’s member hospitals remain committed to protecting and safeguarding our patients,” Sarah Hackenbracht, GDAHA president & CEO, said in a prepared statement.

There are exceptions to the visitation policy that may apply:

• “End of Life” situations;
• For maternity patients, one (1) additional support person, such as a doula, will be permitted
• For minor maternity patients, a parent or guardian will also be permitted
• Minor patients (under 18 years old) may have two (2) visitors in the emergency department and inpatient setting. This is limited to only parents or guardians
• NICU patients will be allowed two (2) visitors for the duration of the patient’s stay with one visitor allowed at a time
• Patients who require assistance because of mobility, reorienting/confusion (patient safety), interpretation, court-ordered, or health care decision-making may have one (1) additional assistance person.

Visitors will not be permitted for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients in the hospital unless the patient meets one of the above exceptions.

The updated guidelines on screening and face coverings are as follows:

• All employees, staff, patients and visitors will be screened for symptoms or exposure history
• Visitors will be asked to leave if they have had symptoms in the past 24 hours or exposures in the last 14 days
• Employees, staff, patients and visitors must wash their hands, or use hand sanitizer, before and after leaving rooms and hospital buildings
• Visitors should wear a face covering (mask) when in the common areas of the hospital facility such as hallways, public restrooms, gift shops, dining areas
• Visitors will be asked to wear their face covering (mask) when a caregiver is present in a patient room
• Patients and visitors may provide and wear their own mask or will be required to accept and wear one the hospital provides
• Masks or facial coverings must fully cover the nose and mouth
• If a visitor refuses to wear a mask, the visitor may be asked to leave

Exceptions may be made on an individual basis for those individuals who are unable to wear a face covering or mask because of health or disability issues.

GDAHA represents 29 hospitals and health systems in the Dayton region and collaborates with its members to improve health care services in Auglaize, Butler, Darke, Champaign, Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby, and Warren counties in West Central Ohio.

© 2020 Cox Media Group