CURRENT POLICY AS OF 5/18/2023

Visiting Hours

Central Maine Medical Center
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Maternity – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Bridgton Hospital
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Weekends – please enter through the Emergency Department

Rumford Hospital
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Weekends – please enter through the Emergency Department

CMH Provider Team
Normal business hours 

RESTRICTIONS ON VISITATION

Professional judgment will be used to determine whether visitation should be limited for clinical reasons, or, in the event of a shared room, the needs and privacy of other patient(s) in the room, observing the following guidelines:        

• The patient has two options regarding restriction of visitation:
  • a.      Denied = deny all information; or
  • b.      Restricted = information to be given is restricted as specified by the patient.
• The patient has the right to:
  • a.      Designate persons to be considered as support persons for visitation by communicating this to the healthcare provider orally or in writing; and
  • b.      Designate visitors, change, or revoke the designation at any time.
• Patients may have up to two (2) visitors at one time.
• Designated visitors, along with the changes to designations, should be communicated to the Patient Access Center (PAC) team, Central Registration at Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital or the Hospital Operator as noted in the electronic medical record.
• In the absence of restrictions, the patient will be on regular status and the caller will be transferred to the patient care unit.
• In arranging visiting hours, nursing department will balance the patients’ need for rest, with the benefit of having visitors.
• The charge nurse or patient’s assigned nurse is expected to exercise good judgment in limiting the frequency, duration, and number of visitors.
• The organization reserves the right to limit visitation for other situations, including community transmission of disease and other clinical restrictions, the disruptive behavior of a visitor, the impact of visitors on the patient or roommate’s need for privacy (especially during a procedure or test), court orders limiting or restraining contact and behavior presenting a direct risk for threat to patients or staff.
• Visitors’ requests to stay overnight will be granted as long as the patient is located and remains in a single room and the request does not interfere with the medical care of the patient.
• Additional concerns surrounding the safety of patients and staff can be further addressed through a call to Security, the Nursing Supervisor, by using Signal 5000, or as appropriate to your campus. 

VISITATION GUIDELINES FOR MINORS, DEPENDENTS

• Minor visitors/siblings may visit minor patients, when a supervising adult accompanies them and remains present.  In these situations, minor visitors may check on their friend but may not remain in the patient’s room without a supervising adult.
• Minor siblings will not be allowed to stay overnight and/or be responsible for minor patients.
• When the patient is a minor and the PARENT(S) ARE MINOR CHILDREN, the situation should be handled like a parent and child relationship, unless the provider and/or nursing staff identify problems that affect the care and treatment of the minor.  Adult relatives may be included based on relationships and the needs of the situation.
• Minor children shall NOT spend the night with the adult patients.  One identified exception is the breast-feeding mother where a separate adult can stay and assist with the infant.
• Mentally or physically challenged visitors should NOT be left alone and unsupervised with patients; there must be a supervising and accompanying adult at all times, preferably a family member, to avoid distress to patient, visitor and staff.  For situations that require additional assessment, contact Care Management staff for guidance. 

Extraordinary Circumstances:

• Certain patients will require ongoing accompaniment by a family member or other visitor for some or all of their hospital stay.  Extraordinary circumstances include:
  • a.         Patients with significant intellectual disabilities;
  • b.         Patients with unique communication needs, such as dementia/confusion or language barriers that cannot be addressed appropriately through typical translation services;
  • c.          Patients in police custody;
  • d.         Patients from institutions who require near-constant attendance by a staff member with special understanding of the patient’s needs;
  • e.         Patients who require near-constant attendance and have an immediate family member who is willing to be in attendance; or
  • f.           Compassionate care or end of life care. 

Clinical Restrictions

• Justified clinical restrictions may include, but need not be limited to, one or more of the following:
  • a.      A court order limiting or restraining contact;
  • b.      Behavior presenting a direct risk or threat to the patient, hospital staff or others in the immediate environment;
  • c.       Behavior disruptive to the function of the patient care unit;
  • d.      Patient’s risk of infection by visitor;
  • e.      Visitor’s risk of infection by patient;
  • f.        Patient’s need for privacy or rest;
  • g.      When the patient is undergoing a clinical intervention or procedure and the treating health care professional believes it is the patient’s best interest to limit visitation during the clinical intervention or procedure; and,
  • h.      Registered sex offenders in nursing units such as Pediatrics when there are children present as patients. 

Visitor Requirements
In-person visitors must follow infection prevention measures, including:

• Visitors entering rooms of patients on Isolation Precautions are required to adhere to all safety and posted Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Visitors are not allowed to eat or drink while in Isolation Precaution rooms.
• Visitors may be asked to leave during aerosol generating procedures (AGP) or the collection of respiratory specimens for patients on Isolation Precautions.
• It is strongly encouraged that visiting not occur during times of acute illness or exposure, but if unavoidable, masking is required.
• Masking continues to be required under the following circumstances:
  • a.      If the visitor is experiencing any respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, or fever, fatigue, body aches, headache or vomiting/diarrhea.
  • b.      If the visitor tested positive for SARS-Co-V2 within the previous 10 days.
  • c.       If the visitor has had a known exposure to a communicable disease (ex. 10 days for COVID without a test, 7 days if tested negative).
  • d.      If entering an area/unit designated for high risk patients or identified as experiencing ongoing transmission of infection.
• Visitors must sanitize hands upon entry and when leaving a patient room.
• Visitors should not wear gloves unless directed to do so by a staff member.
• Visitors are not permitted to bring personal items beyond absolute essentials (e.g. wallet or purse, keys, cell phone).
• 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 visitation and escorting. Leadership will work with the administrator-on-call and the attending physician to make a final determination on whether visiting criteria are met.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENTS
Extenuating circumstances may necessitate deviation from the terms of a policy. 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.

Updated May 1, 2023