Visitor and Escort Restrictions

EFFECTIVE 11-20-2020

Visitors and escorts will be allowed at Central Maine Healthcare locations in accordance with the following guidelines:

Outpatient Visitor Restrictions

• CMH Clinic/Practice: When necessary, only one companion may escort the patient to their appointment and only if the companion is needed to assist or actively participate in the visit.
  • Requests for two people to escort a patient, for example two parents of a newborn, will be at the discretion of the provider on a case by case basis.
• Same day procedures or outpatient procedures (i.e. lab, radiology, endo, CSPA, etc)  – When necessary, only one companion may escort the patient to their appointment and only if the companion is needed to assist or actively participate in the visit.

Inpatient Visiting Hours

Please be aware of our visitor expectations when coming to a Central Maine Healthcare facility.

• CMMC Inpatient Units
  • One visitor will be permitted during the hours of 3:00pm – 6:00 pm, Monday through Sunday
  • All visitors are required to be screened upon entry and obtain a visitor sticker.
  • Visitors may bring personal items to patients at this time.
• Bridgton Hospital Inpatient Units
  • One visitor will be permitted during the hours of 3:00pm – 6:00pm, Monday – Friday, and Saturdays and Sundays 9:00am-12:00pm.
    • Sunday visitors please enter through the Emergency Department
  • All visitors are required to be screened upon entry and obtain a visitor sticker.
  • Visitors may bring personal items to patients at this time.
• Rumford Hospital Inpatient Units
  • One visitor at a time will be allowed during the hours of  3:00pm – 6:00pm, Monday thru Sunday.
    • Weekend visitors please enter thru the Emergency Department
  • All visitors are required to be screened upon entry and obtain a visitor sticker.
  • Visitors may bring personal items to patients at this time.

Inpatient Visitor Restrictions

• CMHC Critical Care – Immediate family members will be allowed to visit patients at the discretion of the critical care and palliative care teams and will be based on compassionate care, immediate life-threatening or End-of-life care. Transfers from Critical Care to Medical-Surgical Care will be evaluated based on extraordinary circumstances (see below).
• Obstetrics – one birth partner will be allowed in the labor and delivery area during the birth.
• Pediatrics/NICU – one parent will be allowed to be with the child at all times.
• Medical Surgical – one member of a patient’s immediate family will be allowed to visit on the date of discharge.
• Emergency Department – one person will be allowed as an escort unless the patient is undergoing evaluation of COVID 19 or other disease process requiring isolation.
• Extraordinary Circumstances – Certain patients will require ongoing accompaniment by a family member or other escort for some or all of their hospital stay.

Guidelines

• Bridgton, CMMC and Rumford Hospitals

Adult Inpatients –

1. One member of a patient’s immediate family will be allowed to visit on the date of discharge.
   1. When the patient is ready for discharge, one escort will be allowed onsite prior to discharge for discharge teaching purposes.
   2. If appropriate, discharge instructions may also be provided via phone when escort preference is to avoid entry to the hospital.
   3. A time will be arranged for pick up and the nursing staff will bring patient out to their car where the escort will sign the discharge instructions if appropriate.

Pediatrics/NICU –

1. For pediatric patients, one parent will be allowed to be with the child at all times. The second parent will be allowed to visit and/or switch out during designated visiting hours.  Visitor screening will need to occur each time a parent presents to visit their child. In the event it is not possible for the parents to switch during the identified times, nursing staff will coordinate the switch time with the house supervisor. If there are no screeners present then either Security or the House Supervisor will conduct parental screening.
2. For PUI infants the newborn will be able to remain unless clinical presentation warrants transfer.
3. For infants undergoing bilirubin therapy, two parents will be allowed to stay with the infant and cannot go to and from the room/hospital.

Obstetrics – one birth partner will be allowed in the labor and delivery area during the birth and that same visitor is also allowed to visit in the Mother/Baby postpartum care area at any time. For surrogate parents following delivery, both parents of any newborn will be permitted to be visit at the same time.

Critically ill – Immediate family members will be allowed to visit patients for immediate life-threatening or End-of-life care. A maximum of two members of a patient’s immediate family will be allowed to simultaneously visit each day. The duration of the visit is at the discretion of Critical Care.

COVID-19 Positive – No visitors except under End-of-Life or Extraordinary Circumstances (as defined below).

Patients Under Investigation or known to have COVID-19 infection that are receiving End of Life Care –one visitor over the age of 18 will be allowed to visit at a time.

• PPE including surgical mask, full face shield, gown and gloves must be worn at all times while in the room.
• If the visitor leaves the room they will not be allowed to reenter.
• Visitor will be advised of the reason that they will be asked to leave the patient’s room to wait in the hallway during times of aerosol-generating procedures.

End of Life Care/Non COVID 19 – up to two visitors will be allowed to visit at a time. Children must be able to reliably wear a mask and obey all expectations.

• Same day procedures or visits – when necessary, one companion will be allowed to escort the patient prior to the procedure only if the companion is needed to assist or actively participate in the pre-procedure visit.
  1. Escorts will not be allowed to wait inside hospital waiting rooms while the patient is undergoing their procedure.
  2. When the patient is ready for discharge, one escort will be allowed onsite for 30 minutes prior to discharge for discharge teaching.
  3. All other discharge instructions will be provided via phone with the patient, nurse, and escort.
  4. A time will be arranged for pick up and the nursing staff will bring patient out to the car where the escort will sign the discharge instructions
• Emergency Department – one person will be allowed as an escort unless the patient is undergoing evaluation of COVID 19 or other disease process requiring isolation.
  1. Patients requiring isolation will not be allowed visitors in the Emergency Department except in extraordinary circumstances as noted below
  2. Emergency Department patients that are deemed to be End of Life will be allowed up to two visitors over the age of 18 at one time.
• Extraordinary Circumstances – Certain patients will require ongoing accompaniment by a family member or other escort for some or all of their hospital stay.
  1. Extraordinary circumstances include (but are not limited to):
     • Patients with significant intellectual disabilities
     • Patients with unique communications needs, such as dementia/confusion or language barriers that cannot be appropriately managed through typical translation services
     • Patients in police custody
     • Patients from institutions that require near-constant attendance by a staff member with special understanding of the patient’s needs
     • Patients who require near-constant attendance and immediate family is willing to be in attendance
     • Compassionate care or end-of-life care

CMMG Clinic/Practice Guidelines: CMMG Clinic/Central Registration staff will review guidelines with patient/family at the time the appointment is scheduled/confirmed.

• When necessary, only one companion may escort the patient to their appointment and only if the companion is needed to assist or actively participate in the visit.
• Requests for two people to escort a patient, for example two parents of a newborn, will be at the discretion of the provider on a case by case basis.

The Hospital Nursing Supervisor will work in conjunction with Administrator on Call and the attending physician to make a final determination if visiting criteria are met.

Visitor Expectations

1. Masking must be worn at all times while visiting.
2. Visitors must use hand sanitizer upon entrance into CMH locations.
3. Visitors will not be allowed to wear gloves when visiting, unless directed to do so by a staff member.
4. Visitors must complete COVID-19 screening upon entry to CMH locations.
5. Visitors must obtain a visitor pass from the Security Screeners.
6. Visitors must agree to limit their movement to designated entrances/exits as guided by the Security Screeners at the CMH location that they are visiting. Movement to other areas will not be permitted.
7. Visitors who fail screening, are unwilling or unable to wear appropriate PPE, or are unwilling to comply with limiting their movement within CMH location will be ineligible to visit patients in person.
8. Visitors will be asked to limit the personal items they bring into CMH (i.e. keys, cell phone, wallet or purse).
9. Alternatives to in person visiting/escorting will be offered when deemed to be appropriate, specifically video conferencing or telephone communication.
10. Visitors for hospitalized patients will be directed from the entrance to the patient care department by a CMH staff member after screening. If way finding is needed once their visit is complete assistance will be provided.
11. Visitors will only be able to leave personal care items that have been requested by hospitalized patients and ONLY if approved by the RN caring for the patient. This includes food.
12. Out of State Visitors must provide proof of negative COVID test upon request.

Visiting guidelines, expectation and restrictions are subject to change as the COVID 19 pandemic evolves.