Coronavirus: Dayton area hospitals refine visitor restrictions, reinforce mask policy

DAYTON — Members of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association (GDAHA) have refined its visitor restrictions policy due to the threat of coronavirus.

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The policies, which go into effect Thursday, include the GDAHA’s 11-county service area, according to a press release from Sarah Hackenbracht, President and CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association.

Counties included are Auglaize, Butler, Darke, Champaign, Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby and Warren.

Patients will be allowed to have one support person in the building at a time per day which includes the region’s outpatient, ambulatory, emergency department and hospital facilities.

Social distancing must be practiced and masks must be worn.

Anyone who is COVID-19 positive or anyone who is symptomatic awaiting test results, are not allowed to visit neonatal intensive care units.

Additionally, clarification has been added to the policy to prohibit visitation in neonatal intensive care units if the mother or partner is COVID-19 positive.

“Hospitals are continuing to adapt and respond to the changing nature of COVID-19 in our region, said Sarah Hackenbracht, President & CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association. “The additional flexibility of allowing one visitor at a time per the updated regional visitor restrictions will allow families to better engage in the care and recovery of individuals receiving care from one of our member hospitals.”

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There are visitation exceptions that may apply which include:

• “End of Life” situations
• One support person, such as a doula, is allowed for maternity patients.
• A parent or guardian will be allowed for minor maternity patients.
• Minor patients can have up to two visitors but they must be a parent or guardian.
• NICU patients are allowed two visitors for the duration of their stay with one visitor allowed at a time. Mothers and partners who are COVID-19 positive should not visit NICU infants.
• Patients who need assistance due to mobility, reorienting, confusion, interpretation, court-ordered or healthcare decision making may have one assistance person.
• Confirmed of suspected positive COVID-19 patients may not have visitors unless the above criteria are met.

Screening questions and mask policy will remain in place, according to the release.

“We ask for the public’s patience and cooperation as we learn to live with COVID-19 in our region,” Hackenbracht said. “These measures will help our hospitals continue to provide the safe and secure environment our patients need to recover.”

Cox Media Group