North Country Reporter

Weeks Medical Center issued the following announcement on February 25.

New Weeks Visitor Policy Effective March 1, 2022

Effective on March 1, 2022, Weeks Medical Center is changing our visitor policy to facilitate more visitors and offer better patient satisfaction.  Weeks Medical Center reserves the right to revise this policy, or any policy, quickly if changes in community transmission affect staff safety or patient care.

This new policy is for Non-COVID cases. Visitors must still pass current screening questions.

• Primary Care/Clinic Locations
  • Adults – 1 visitor. The visitor must accompany the patient to the exam room. Visitors will still be encouraged to wait outside if possible and have the patient go alone.
  • Pediatric – 2 parents or guardians may accompany a minor (18 and under). They must follow patient to the exam room.
• Oncology
  • 1 visitor for appointment with provider.
  • No visitors allowed during treatment.
• Same Day Surgery
  • 1 visitor can accompany a patient during registration and then go to patient’s room for pre-op. Once patient has gone for procedure, the visitor must return to the car or wait outside the premises. When staff is ready for the visitor to return, staff will call visitor and let them know they are able to come to the patient’s room.
• Med/Surg/ICU
  • 1 visitor per day is allowed. Visiting hours are from 1-3pm and 5-7pm. On the time of admission, the patient will give a name of a person who can visit as well as an alternate visitor.
  • Hospice or End of Life (EOL)  patients can have two visitors at a time unless previous arrangements are made with the care team and house coordinator.
  • Screener will call Med/Surg (5300) prior to visitor heading to unit.
• Emergency Department
  • All visitors once in the Emergency Department must stay in the patient’s room and cannot “switch out.”
  • If patient has COVID symptoms or says they have COVID, then the visitor will be asked to wait in their car outside the premises. This only applies for adult patients. If COVID can be ruled out after testing, visitor will be called and let into the department.
  • Adult- 1 Visitor
  • Pediatric (18 and under) – 2 parents/guardians
  • There may be times when our waiting area or department becomes too crowded to remain safe. When this occurs visitors may be asked to wait in their car until the patient gets to their room, or the ER is less crowded.

Original source can be found here.