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  • Luminis Health Visitor Guidelines     

  • Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center will open its doors to limited patient visitation beginning Thursday, March 4. This much anticipated guideline change allows one to two care partners or support persons, based on patient situation, to be present during visiting hours throughout the patient’s stay. Visiting hours are 12 p.m. through 8 p.m.

    Caring for and protecting our patients, families, employees, and the community during COVID-19 is of the utmost importance. All care partners and support persons will be screened upon entry to the hospital. All care partners and support persons will be required to wear an appropriate mask at all times while in the hospital (even if vaccinated); must maintain social distancing from others; and will be required to wash or sanitize their hands throughout their visit.

    As a patient- and family-centered organization, we will continue to review and update our visitation guidelines and practices as the situation changes.

    Definitions:

    Care Partners – Any person(s) who plays a significant role in an individual’s life. This may include family or a person(s) not legally related to the individual. Family members include spouses, domestic partners, and significant others. Care partners may be individuals with a continued legal, genetic and/or emotional relationship as defined by the patient. 

    Support Person – For patients with disabilities, support persons provide personal, behavioral and/or communication support not otherwise provided in a hospital setting. A support person may be appropriate for, but is not limited to, patients with intellectual, developmental, physical, or neurocognitive disabilities. A support person may include, but is not limited to a family member, personal care assistant and/or disability service provider.  

    While temporary restrictions remain in place, exceptions and guidelines for specific areas are below. General guidelines apply to care partners and support persons. 

    • Have you been diagnosed or tested for COVID-19 in the past 10 days? If yes, is the test pending, negative, positive?
    • Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms which are new or different from your usual, in the last 10 days?
      • Cough
      • Muscle Pain 
      • Shortness of Breath
      • Sore Throat 
      • Diarrhea, Nausea or Vomiting 
      • New loss of taste of smell
      • Fever greater than 100.1 degrees F 
      • Chills

    • Clergy of any denomination may visit a patient at any time. Clergy does not count in visitation totals.
    • Care partners and support persons must always wear a mask. They may not be removed in the patient’s room. Even if the care partner or support person is vaccinated, they must wear a mask throughout their visit.
    • Care partners and support persons must wash or sanitize hands upon entry to the hospital and entry into and exit from patient rooms.
    • Care partners and support persons will be verbally screened for COVID-19 symptoms when entering the hospital.
    • Care partners and support persons should stay in the patient’s room and limit walking to public bathrooms and cafes.
    • Care partners and support persons may not gather in lounges, lobbies, or hallways.
    • Care partners and support persons should be 18 years and older, unless the visit is for end of life.
    • Patients who are 21 years of age or under may have a parent or guardian with them.
    • Care partners and support persons who serve as a surrogate decision maker, including power of attorney or court-appointed guardianship for a patient, and need to be physically present to engage in the decision making process are permitted. The attending physician will be the final decision maker as to whether someone needs to be physically present.
    • Hospital guests with an official governmental function may be present.

    • One care partner or support person may be designated at admission. This designation will not change. The care partner or support person will be required to put on personal protective equipment (PPE), provided by the nursing team, which will include a gown, gloves, and a surgical mask. A member of the hospital care team will assist in PPE use.  

    • One care partner or support person may be with the patient 24/7.
    • End of Life/Acute Life Threatening Event: two care partners or support persons may be present.

    • Up to two care partners or support persons may be at bedside per day and visitation occurs during designated visiting hours. These care partners or support persons do not switch during a single day. Consistency in care partners is preferred throughout the hospital stay.
    • Patients who are suspected of, or have been diagnosed with, COVID-19:
      • One care partner or support person may be designated at admission. This designation will not change. The care partner or support person will be required to put on personal protective equipment (PPE), provided by the nursing team, which will include a gown, gloves, and a surgical mask. A member of the hospital care team will assist in PPE use.

    • Two care partners or support persons per laboring patient may be with the patient 24/7 for the duration of the patient’s stay. These care partners or support persons must be consistent and cannot switch. This is applicable to all patients, including those who have positive COVID-19 results.
    • Doulas may be present, and are not counted in the total number of care partners or support persons.  

    • One parent and a consistent support person of the parent's choice.
    • COVID-19 visitation will be dependent on the COVID-19 status of the parent and the support person.  

    • Two parents or guardians may be with the patient 24/7 during their stay. Applicable to all patients, including those who have positive COVID-19 results.
    • If siblings are present and have no one to care for them, contact department leadership.  

    • Patients arriving from home and undergoing a scheduled surgery or procedure may have one care partner or support person present. 

    • One care partner or support person may be with the patient during their appointment. 

    • Family members/Support persons are not permitted at this time.

     

    • One support person can be present with the patient 24/7 on all units. Applicable to all patients, including those with positive COVID-19 results. The support person is included in the total number of care partners or support persons allowed for each area.
    • Support persons may be asked to leave the room during certain procedures. 

    If the health care team deems the patient is approaching end of life or has experienced a life-threatening event, the care team will contact care partners (as defined by patient).

    • Patients (with positive or negative COVID-19 results) may have up to two care partners or support persons at bedside, 24/7 on all units.
      • Care partners or support persons may switch throughout the visit.
      • An adult must be with minors under 18. The minor counts as the second care partner.

  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Can my clergy member visit me during my stay at the hospital? 

    Clergy of any denomination may visit a patient at any time. Clergy does not count in visitation totals, so care partners and support persons are also able to visit, per the guidelines. 

    If I am a visitor and I have received one or both of my COVID-19 vaccines, do I have to wear a mask when I am at the hospital?

    Yes. At this time, all care partners and support persons must wear a mask at all times. Masks may not be removed in the patient’s room. 

    How can family and friends stay in touch with their loved ones and the health care team?

    Hospital staff will reach out to a designated family member, as agreed to by the patient, to communicate about the patient’s condition. In addition, hospital staff will help you in communicating directly with the patient.

    How can I be sure that my loved one will be safely cared for during the COVID-19 outbreak?

    Employees are trained in the management of infectious disease and Luminis Health is following recommendations of the CDC, Maryland Department of Health and other health care organizations. We understand that it is unsettling not to be able to visit your loved one, but these visitor restrictions are designed to keep both you and your loved one safe during this time. 

    What if my loved one or I need health care for other illnesses or injury?

    During this pandemic, our patients still need care for health conditions unrelated to COVID-19, and we will continue to serve and care for the needs of all patients within the constraints of safely managing through the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to providing essential health services and to caring for our community. 

  • Additional requests will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the administrator on call. We appreciate your understanding during these extraordinary times. We are confident that together we will continue to deliver the highest quality of care.