As part of enhanced efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus), effective Wednesday, March 18, Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall is updating its visitor policy to include additional restrictions and overall discouragement of visitors to include children under the age of 18. Providing quality patient care to the community remains the focus of the facility.
According to a news release:
· As of March 18, the hospital is strongly discouraging visitors. This includes visitors to the emergency department, inpatient units, Women’s Center, physician clinics and other facilities. Patient care in these areas will continue with enhanced safety precautions in place.
o All visitors will be screened for fever, COVID-19 and other illness-like symptoms and asked related questions.
o The main lobby will close at 6 p.m. each day. Weekend hours will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
· The hospital is strongly encouraging the public to consider limiting visitors to one person per patient.
· If visitors show any illness-like symptoms, they unfortunately will be asked to leave.
Exceptions to this policy may be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of medical personnel.
In lieu of a personal visit, the hospital strongly encourages everyone to use FaceTime, Skype or other virtual means to connect with a loved one in the hospital.
These are difficult but necessary steps are intended to keep everyone safe as the hospital implements procedures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
This policy is subject to change as the situation evolves.