Henry County Medical Rolls Back Visitation Policy

PARIS — As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the nation and in our region and with some positive cases within our own organization, Henry County Medical Center has made the decision to return to No Visitors at our facility effective immediately, Wednesday, July 22, 2020.

The only exceptions will be needed caregivers or support persons such as a driver or parent of a patient under 18 years of age. Some special circumstances may apply and will be approved on a case-by-case basis, mainly End-Of-Life situations.

Other changes to the visitation policy are as follows:

Entrances to HCMC: There will only be 3 Patient/Support Person entrances to HCMC; the entrance from the patient parking lot/bridge, the front circle entrance, and the Emergency Department entrance. All other entrances will be locked to patients and visitors.

Entrance Hours: The two front entrances will be locked daily to patients/support persons from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will be locked on the weekends starting at 5 p.m. on Friday to open at 5 a.m. on Monday. The Emergency Department entrance will be open 24 hours a day.

Visitor Badge & Temperature: Anyone entering the facility as a patient or support person of the patient must check in at one of the desks and receive a Visitor Badge and have his/her temperature taken. Anyone with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees will be asked to leave the facility.

Women’s Center (OB Unit): Only one support person will be allowed with the patient.

Critical Care Unit: No visitors allowed except special circumstances such as End-of-Life situations.

Again, the Emergency Room Visitation Policy is still in effect:

No visitation to be allowed in the ER rooms unless:

There is a need for a caregiver

The patient is under age and needs a parent

Or, there are special circumstances approved by the medical provider (physician or midlevel) treating the patient.

The HCMC Surgery Center Visitation Policy is as follows:

NO visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed at the HCMC Surgery Center.

Support people or caregivers will be asked to wait in their vehicles until the patient is discharged.

If you are experiencing any symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, body aches or if you have been in any area where you may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus) DO NOT ENTER THIS FACILITY and potentially expose your loved one, friend, or any of the staff to this potentially deadly virus.

The HCMC Diagnostic Center Visitation Policy is as follows:

If you have a fever or cough, PLEASE DO NOT ENTER.

Call the Diagnostic Center and you will be given instructions on how to proceed. The number is 731-644-8233.

Only ONE support person per OB ultrasound patient will be allowed in the Diagnostic Center. NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO WAIT IN THE WAITING ROOM.

To protect all patients, NO CHILDREN WILL BE ALLOWED under the age of 18 in Diagnostic Center unless they are the patient.

Mandatory temperature checks will be taken on all patients entering the HCMC Diagnostic Center.

Support persons and caregivers who do not have special permission to be with the patient will be asked to wait in their vehicles for the patients having testing, procedures, or surgery. This is also the case for the Emergency Room.

HCMC Center for Wellness & Rehab has also been following a very similar policy and is as follows:

If you have a fever or cough, PLEASE DO NOT ENTER.

NO visitors under the age of 18. Mandatory temperature checks will be taken on all patients entering HCMC Center for Wellness & Rehab.

HCMC Cardiac Rehab has also implemented new guidelines to keep patients safe during this time. These guidelines are as follows:

Stay home if you are not feeling well. If you have fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, or fatigue, please stay home.

Mandatory temperature checks will be taken on all patients entering Cardiac Rehab.

No more than 10 people total are allowed in Cardiac Rehab at one time.

Continue to clean equipment before and after exercising and wash your hands with soap and water where available or hand sanitizer.

Safety protocols put in place regarding care include, but are not limited to:

All individuals entering Henry County Medical Center facilities, including partners and providers, will continue to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms including temperature checks daily.

All individuals entering Henry County Medical Center will be asked to wear a mask. Patients and visitors are asked to bring their own masks. If they do not have one available, one will be provided based on supplies available at the hospital, Surgery Center, and Diagnostic Center.

Six-foot social distances will continue in public areas such as waiting rooms.

Extra cleaning and disinfection of high-touch, public surface areas will continue.

Infectious patients will continue to be cared for in isolation, away from non-infectious patients.

Surveillance statistics of our community and regional area will be monitored for trends and stability.

Utilization of hospital beds, ventilators, and PPE will be monitored to ensure ability if there is a need.