UNC Health Lenoir’s Response to COVID-19

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Current Visitor Guidelines

Revised 16 June 2022

NO VISITOR, EMPLOYEE, VENDOR, VOLUNTEER, OR STUDENT WITH FEVER, COUGH, COLD OR FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS, VOMITING, DIARRHEA, OR LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL SHOULD ENTER UNC HEALTH LENOIR FACILITIES.

NO VISITORS UNDER THE AGE OF 12 ARE PERMITTED. VISITORS WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE HIGH-RISK, PREGNANT, OR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED ARE DISCOURAGED FROM VISITING.

ALL VISITORS MUST PASS A HEALTH SCREENING, WEAR PROPER FACE PROTECTION, PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND PROPER HAND HYGIENE WHILE IN THE FACILITY.

EXCEPTIONS TO THIS VISITOR POLICY MAY BE MADE BY THE CHIEF NURSING OFFICER.

General Guidelines

1. An appropriate mask will be provided to visitors during the screening process.

2. In addition to these guidelines, specific guidelines are defined for Inpatient, Family Birth Center, Emergency, Surgery, and Outpatient.

3. Visitors should not be present during aerosol-generating procedures or during the collection of respiratory specimens. When the visitor cannot remain in the room, the visitor should relocate to the nearest available waiting room

Inpatient Unit Visitation

1. Two healthy, adult visitors will be permitted in the inpatient areas. These visitors will be screened and required to wear a mask at all times. 
   1. If the patient’s condition requires a caregiver that is essential to patient’s care and the visitor stays overnight, the visitor must be rescreened DAILY by the primary RN.
2. The visitor must remain in the patient room at all times.
   1. Exception: may visit the cafeteria for meal take-out or to gift shop.
   2. Visitors are encouraged to limit the number of times they enter and exit the building.
3. COVID-positive patients and/or patients under investigation (PUI) of COVID may have one healthy adult visitor.
   1. All visitors visiting a COVID or PUI patient must wear proper PPE at all times which includes enhanced mask protection, face shield, gown, and gloves.
   2. Visitors that are visiting a COVID positive or PUI patient must not visit anywhere else in the hospital.
   3. Visitation hours for COVID positive and PUI patients may vary compared to general visitation hours.
   4. Two parents/guardians may stay with a patient in a pediatric area of the hospital.
      1. Pediatric COVID-19 positive patients are allowed two asymptomatic parents (prefer one at a time) to stay in the room.

Family Birth Center

1. Two designated screened visitors will be permitted to accompany the laboring mother and visit during labor, delivery, and the post-partum period.
   1. If the birth partner (visitor) stays overnight, the visitor must be rescreened DAILY by the primary RN.
   2. If newborn needs an extended stay and mother is discharged, both parents will be allowed to visit their newborn.
2. Birth partners are allowed to accompany the patient for a cesarean section procedure.
3. An additional visitor will be allowed into the facility to sign legal documents (i.e. birth certificates).
4. Visiting hours, if any, are at the discretion of Family Birth Leadership.
5. COVID-positive patients and/or patients under investigation (PUI) of COVID may have one healthy adult visitor.

Emergency Department

1. One designated screened visitor will be permitted to accompany each ED patient, including the treatment area, unless the patient is a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient. In this case, the visitor must remain in the ED waiting area.

2. Two parents/guardians will be permitted to accompany each pediatric ED patient.

   1. Both parents/guardians may accompany the patient to the treatment area and remain for a brief period but one parent/guardian should return to the waiting area for the remainder of the visit unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Surgical/Cath Lab Patients

1. One designated, screened visitor will be permitted to accompany each adult surgical patient.

   1. The visitor must remain in the waiting area until invited by a nurse to the pre and post-op area.

2. Two parents/guardians will be permitted to accompany each pediatric surgical patient.

   1. One parent/guardian may accompany the patient in the pre and post-operative area as needed.

Outpatient Departments 

1. All outpatient departments may permit one designated, screened visitor to accompany each adult outpatient.

   1. Visitor may be asked to remain in the designated outpatient waiting area.

2. Pediatric patients are permitted two parents/guardians, one of which may be permitted to accompany the patient in the treatment area.