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Central Maine Healthcare

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Home About Us CMH Alert – COVID-19 CMH Visitor Guidelines

VISITOR GUIDELINES

Your health and safety are our top priority and that is reflected in our visitor and escort policy. We update the policy when needed to protect our patients, visitors and team members. Visiting guidelines are subject to change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.

VISITOR AND ESCORT POLICY – UPDATED 12/29/2021

Visitors and escorts are not permitted at Central Maine Healthcare hospitals (Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital), practices and Urgent Care locations except under the following circumstances: 

Extraordinary Circumstances: Certain patients will require ongoing accompaniment by a family member or other escort for some or all of their hospital stay. Extraordinary circumstances include, but are not limited to:

  • Compassionate care or end-of-life care. For patients receiving end-of-life care, two visitors at a time are allowed. Children must be able to reliably wear masks and obey all requirements.
  • Patients with significant intellectual disabilities.
  • Patients with unique communications needs, such as dementia/confusion or language barriers that cannot be addressed appropriately through typical translation services.
  • Patients in police custody.
  • Patients from institutions who require near-constant attendance by a staff member with special understanding of the patient’s needs.
  • Patients who require near-constant attendance and have an immediate family who is willing to be in attendance.

COVID-19 Positive Patients: In-person visiting only under extraordinary circumstances.

  • We encourage phone calls, FaceTime and videoconferencing. Tablets are available for this use.
  • Visitors may not be present during aerosol-generating procedures or the collection of respiratory specimens.
  • Individuals who have been exposed to the patient or who are COVID-19 positive themselves may not visit.

Critical Care: At the discretion of the care team, immediate family members may be allowed to visit based on extraordinary circumstances. Minors are not permitted to visit inpatient care areas

Emergency Department: One escort if extraordinary circumstances apply. Minors are strongly discouraged from visiting or accompanying a patient in the Emergency Department unless they need to be under the supervision of the patient until other arrangements are made.

Inpatient Care Units: At the discretion of the care team, immediate family members may be allowed to visit based on extraordinary circumstances. Minors are not permitted to visit inpatient care areas.

Long-Term Care Facilities: Visitors to long-term care facilities (Rumford Community Home and Bolster Heights Residential Care) are permitted in accordance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid regulations. Please contact the facility directly for more information.

Obstetrics: One birth partner in the labor and delivery area and/or a vaccinated certified birthing specialist may be present throughout delivery. Minors are not permitted to visit inpatient care areas

Patients Being Discharged: One immediate family member may escort the patient.

Pediatrics and Newborn Nursery: One parent at a time may be with the child at all times. Minors are not permitted to visit inpatient care areas

Practices, Outpatient Facilities and Same-Day Stay Procedures: Patients with appointments or same-day/outpatient procedures may have one escort only if needed to assist or actively participate in the visit.

VISITOR AND ESCORT REQUIREMENTS: Individuals will be ineligible to visit if they fail to meet any of the following:

  • Passing COVID-19 screening requirements.
  • Sanitizing hands upon entry and when leaving a patient’s room.
  • Masking at all times.
  • Wearing visitor pass provided by screeners.
  • Not wearing gloves unless directed to do so by a staff member.
  • Using only designated entrances and exits and going only to the room of the patient being visited (and, at CMMC, the coffee shop and gift shop).
  • Not consuming any food or drinks inside facilities, including in patient rooms.

PERSONAL ITEMS: As an infection prevention precaution, we limit items that may be brought into our facilities. Please do not bring personal items beyond absolute essentials (wallet or purse, keys). Limited personal care items may be brought to patients.

The hospital nursing supervisor, working with the administrator on call and the attending physician, will make the final determination on whether visiting criteria are met. 

Visiting guidelines are subject to change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.

Disclaimer: Extenuating circumstances may necessitate deviation from the terms of a guideline. It is understood that emergent situations may occur, which require immediate resolution. Where applicable, appropriate documentation should be created to support the necessity for such deviations.