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Visitation Guidelines: Reopening Texas 2021

Effective March 15, 2020 Houston Physicians’ Hospital will adopt an updated visitation guideline that continues to provide ongoing protection for our patients, employees, and physicians while recognizing the key role caregivers play in the quality of care and outcomes of patients. This policy aligns with the State of Texas, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guidelines and the Guidelines to Reopen Texas.

Outpatient Testing, Diagnostics, Therapy, ER and Outpatient Surgical Procedures

  • Visitation is limited to one essential visitor only for the purpose of providing care (i.e. minor child, person with disability, wheelchair bound, hearing/seeing difficulties, etc.)
  • We encourage the use of video electronic communication, such as the use of a smart phone and video chat as much as possible

Inpatient Surgical Procedures and Inpatients

  • Patients admitted to the inpatient unit may have one adult person over the age of 18 allowed to visit daily during the hours of 8 AM – 8PM for non-COVID-19 patients. Exceptions require approval from nursing leadership.
  • Minors admitted to the hospital may have one guardian stay overnight.
  • A log of visitors will be maintained by the screening station staff.
  • In order to ensure social distancing, we ask that the designated visitor wait in their car or at home until notified by inpatient nursing staff that they may visit the patient in their room.
  • The visitor will check in at the screening station where they will be screened for symptoms of COVID 19 and logged as the patient’s visitor for the day. The visitor sticker should be worn at all times during their stay.
  • The patient will be given written instructions for visitation upon arrival to their room. Nursing staff will reinforce the written instructions with each visitor.
  • Visitors must frequently wash or sanitize their hands, especially before and after coming into contact with the patient. They must also limit interactions with others, practice social distancing, restrict themselves to only the locations designated by the facility, and limit time outside of the patient’s room.

Joint Coaches may accompany the patient into the therapy room coupled with the patient.  The couples must remain 6 feet apart from each other.  Hand hygiene at the beginning and end of therapy must be performed.  Masks and face coverings must be worn during group therapy.   If either the visitor or coach cannot tolerate the mask during this time then the therapy must be performed in the patient’s room.

Until the COVID pandemic has subsided:

  • Visitors, and patients with fever, cough, sore throat, or other COVID-19 like symptoms are not permitted in any area of the hospital, unless seeking care.
  • All patients and approved visitors are required to provide and wear a mask or cloth face covering while in the hospital.
  • Inpatients may remove their masks while alone in their room. Masks and face coverings are required while in the corridors and therapy rooms.
  • Staff will escort patients to and from appointments if needed. Friends/family will drop patients off and pick them up from the front lobby or side pickup area.

Guidelines for Visitors and Single Designated Caregivers who meet the exceptions list:

  • Must be 18 years old or older
  • Must pass the screening at the designated entrances which includes:
    • No COVID-19 symptoms per CDC guidelines
    • Has not been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days
    • Has not traveled to restricted areas or taken a cruise in the past 14 days.
  • Must frequently wash or sanitize their hands, limit interactions with others, practice social distancing, are restricted to only the locations designated by the facility, and must limit time outside of the patient’s room
  • Will be required to wear a cloth face covering or mask during their hospital visit per CDC and CMS guidelines

We understand these precautions may be difficult for families, but it is imperative we take additional precautions to keep our patients and community safe during this global pandemic.

Instructions for Inpatient Visitors: Reopening Texas

Houston Physicians’ Hospital guidelines continue to provide ongoing protection for our patients, employees, and physicians while recognizing the key role caregivers play in the quality of care and outcomes of patients. This policy aligns with the State of Texas, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guidelines and the Guidelines to Reopen America. Our patients who are admitted to the inpatient unit will be allowed to have one designated visitor per day during visiting hours from 8AM to 8PM. Exceptions to the visitation guideline will be made on a case by case basis and approved by Nursing Leadership.

Steps to prepare for your visit:  (regardless of individual vaccination status)

  1. Put on a mask or cloth face covering before you enter the front entrance of the building (Monday-Friday) or the Emergency Room Entrance (Saturday-Sunday).
  2. Disinfect hands with hand sanitizer upon entry.
  3. Prepare to be screened for risks and signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
  4. Inform the screener which patient and room # that you will be visiting.
  5. Observe social distancing at all times. Inpatient visitors will not be allowed to sit in the lobby areas or Wall Mall in efforts to maintain social distancing.  You will be asked to stay in the patient’s room unless attending group physical therapy sessions.
  6. Universal Masking in the hospital setting is imperative to keep our patients, visitors and staff safe. Patients are not expected to wear a mask while in their room. Visitors who live in the same household as the patient may remove their mask while in the room.  Visitors must wear a mask at any time they are outside of the patient’s room.
  7. Hand Hygiene (use of soap and water or hand sanitizer) should be performed upon entry to the patient’s room and before and after contact with the patient.
  8. Patient Coaches who participate in total joint group therapy will be instructed by the therapist on social distancing and hand hygiene upon entry and exit to the gym.
  9. Guest trays are available for lunch and dinner upon request.

Exclusions for visitation:

  • Identified risks for COVID-19; exposure to a person actively infected with COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
  • Symptoms of COVID-19; Fever of >100.0, Cough, Shortness of Breath, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, loss of taste or smell.
  • Noncompliance with the screening process universal masking, social distancing and hand hygiene.

For more information on COVID -19 please refer to WWW.CDC.GOV and GOV.ReopeningTexas.Gov

Resources:

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

https://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/

https://open.texas.gov/