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Central Maine Healthcare

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

VISITOR GUIDELINES

Masking is required of all individuals at all times inside all Central Maine Healthcare facilities

Visitors and escorts will be allowed at Central Maine Healthcare hospitals, practices and Urgent Care locations in accordance with guidelines below. (Please contact Bolster Heights Residential Care and Rumford Community Home directly for information)

Effective October 7, 2021

VISITING HOURS

8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily for all three of our hospitals: Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital

Hospitalized patients may have only one visitor at a time.

VISITOR AND ESCORT REQUIREMENTS

In-person visitors and escorts must follow infection prevention measures, including:

  • Screening
  • Sanitizing hands upon entry and when leaving a patient’s room
  • Masking at all times
  • Not wearing gloves unless directed to do so by a staff member
  • Using only designated entrances/exits and going only between there and the patient’s room
    • At Central Maine Medical Center, visitors may go to the coffee shop and gift shop.
  • Not consuming any food or drinks inside facilities, including in patient rooms
  • Adhering to the limit of one visitor at a time in a patient room, including when two patients are sharing the room

Any of the following will make individuals ineligible for in-person visits:

  • Failing screening
  • Not masking at all times in our facilities
  • Going to locations other than the patient’s room (and CMMC coffee shop and gift shop); using entrances/exits aside from officially designated ones

Please remember:

  • Visitors must wear the visitor pass provided by screeners.
  • Please do not bring personal items beyond absolute essentials (wallet or purse, keys).
  • No personal care items – including food – are allowed unless approved by the patient’s nurse and may only be brought to patients during visiting hours.
  • Visitors are permitted to leave and return to the building during designated visiting hours.
  • Video conferencing and telephone calls may be possible alternatives to in-person visiting and escorting.

LIMITS ON VISITORS AND ESCORTS

Hospitalized patients may have only one visitor at a time. Patients being discharged may be escorted by one immediate family member.

Minor Visitors– Visitors under the age of 18 are restricted from all inpatient visiting. Visitors under the age of 18 are permitted to visit ambulatory areas, such as Medical Imaging, Family Practices, or as needed. Minors are strongly discouraged visiting Emergency unless necessary to accompany patient until arrangements can be made.

Patients with appointments or same-day/outpatient procedures may have one escort only if needed to assist or actively participate in the visit.

The following exceptions apply: 

  • Critical Care: At the discretion of the care team, immediate family members may be allowed to visit based on compassionate care, immediate life-threatening or end-of-life care considerations.
  • Emergency Department: No escort allowed if the patient is undergoing evaluation for COVID-19 or other disease process requiring isolation.
  • COVID-19 Positive: Visitors are subject to additional screening and infection prevention protocols. Please speak to the patient’s caregiver for additional details.
    • We encourage phone calls, FaceTime and videoconferencing. Tablets are available for this use.
    • One in-person visitor is allowed per day, unless arrangements are made for extraordinary circumstances.
    • We encourage visits outside of the patient’s room, separated by a glass barrier.
    • In-room visits carry a greater risk and must be approved by the care team. They require additional personal protective equipment, infection prevention measures and education.
    • Visitors may not be present during aerosol-generating procedures or the collection of respiratory specimens.
    • Individuals exposed to the patient or who is COVID-19 positive themselves may not visit.
  • Obstetrics: one birth partner in the labor and delivery area and/or a doula or other certified birthing specialist may be present throughout delivery
  • Pediatrics/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: one parent at a time may be with the child at all times.
  • 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:
    • 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
    • Compassionate care or end-of-life care
    • For non-COVID-19 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.

The hospital nursing supervisor will work in conjunction with the administrator on call and the attending physician to make a 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.