Johnston Health Enacts Heightened Restrictions for Facility Visitors, Vendors and Volunteers
Due to the growing spread of coronavirus / COVID-19 in North Carolina, Johnston Health is enacting stricter restrictions for visitors, vendors, volunteers and students at at our hospitals, including outpatient facilities and clinics.
PLEASE NOTE: No visitor, vendor, volunteer or student with fever, cough, cold or flu-like symptoms should enter any Johnston Health facility. Personal masks will not be provided. These visitor restrictions may be tightened further as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
Masks Policy
We ask that all patients, companions, visitors, community practitioners and vendors wear masks at Johnston Heath facilities.
For Our Outpatient Locations:
All patients attending a clinic visit will be provided a mask at the front door of the facility. While we are asking patients to refrain from bringing a companion to their visit, any companions will also be provided a mask unless already wearing one. Outpatients and companions should wear the masks for their entire visit.
For Our Hospitals:
Patients will be required to wear their masks whenever they are outside of their rooms and when anyone else enters their rooms.
All approved visitors and any vendors visiting Johnston Health will be issued masks at hospital entrances, which they will be asked to wear for the duration of the visit.
Visitors
Johnston Health is committed to patient-centered, safe care throughout all of our hospitals. Due to the growing spread of coronavirus / COVID-19 in North Carolina, and to limit the risk of exposure for patients, caregivers, and employees, Johnston Health will be enacting more stringent restrictions for visitors at its hospitals.
No visitors will be allowed in the inpatient areas, outpatient areas, or Emergency Departments at Johnston Health until further notice, with the exceptions noted below:
One visitor will be allowed for:
- Pediatric patient
- A laboring mother
- One procedure companion will be allowed to wait with outpatient surgical and procedure patients prior to procedure and will be allowed one brief visit after.
- One visitor may accompany patients to outpatient cancer clinics for those who cannot navigate their appointment without assistance.
- Patients within 24 hours following a surgery or invasive procedure – A brief visit after surgery or invasive procedures. This visit may take place in the recovery area or, in rare instances, on the inpatient unit.
The number of visitors for end-of-life situations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, a caregiver may be allowed for patients where a family member or significant other is essential to patient care. These decisions will be made by the care team. No visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed to visit for the foreseeable future. Visitors who are over 65, pregnant or immunocompromised are discouraged from visiting.
Outpatient Clinics/Outpatient Departments/Emergency Department:
No visitors/companions will be allowed in the outpatient areas or Emergency Department. In rare cases, a caregiver may be allowed for patients where a family member or significant other is essential to patient care. These decisions will be made by the care team.
Please note that some practices or services may apply further visitor restrictions. This is to protect the health of patients with complex or high-risk medical conditions. Johnston Health allows providers to make these final decisions.
Additional restrictions are as follows:
- The number of entrances to the hospital will be limited. All visitors and patients, including vendors and contractors, will be screened at designated entry points, including the Emergency Department.
- Any visitors who are allowed must pass a health screening. Visitors should not visit our campuses if they have one or more of the following symptoms—fever, cough or shortness of breath—or have come into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
- Patients under COVID-19 investigation may not have any visitors, unless compassionate care is approved.
These restrictions have been put in place to protect everyone’s safety. The best scientific data and expertise inform us that “social distancing” is an essential element in successful efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. We must do our part to support these guidelines and remain a good community partner. We also encourage you to use electronic communication for “virtual visitation,” such as FaceTime and Skype, in place of in-person visitation wherever possible. We appreciate your understanding at this time.
Vendors/Contractors
Only vendors and contractors who are essential to patient care and business operations will be allowed onsite on an as-needed basis. Vendors and contractors who do not directly support patient care and critical business operations should work remotely and will not be allowed in Johnston Health hospitals until further notice. Vendors and contractors may be subject to health screening at any time prior to entry or while onsite at any Johnston Health hospital.
Volunteers
Volunteers are extremely important to the function of Johnston Health, but it is equally important to protect the health of those volunteers and the people with whom they come in contact. Volunteers who do not directly support patient care activities or essential business operations should not report to Johnston Health until further notice. These volunteers should follow the same requirements as Johnston Health employees. Volunteers age 65 and older, and those with underlying health conditions are discouraged from participating in their volunteer roles at this time.
In addition to the restrictions outlined above, community events, activities, and meetings hosted at Johnston Health also are canceled until further notice.
