Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) is moving to visitation red status on January 1, 2021. Visitation red status indicates no visitation in a MWHC facility.
“With the drastic rise in COVID-19 cases in our community and under our care in our hospitals and facilities, it is in the best interest for the safety of our staff, providers, and patients to restrict visitation at this time,” says Christopher Newman, MD, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer for MWHC.
Visitation red status restricts all visitation in MWHC facilities with few exceptions. Visitation exceptions include:
- Minor patients may have one designated caregiver (parent or guardian) throughout their stay
- Individuals with disabilities may have one designated caregiver throughout their stay
- Patients giving birth can have one designated support person throughout their stay
- Clergy may continue to provide brief supportive visits with prior approval by the pastoral care department
- Compassionate care visits may be approved as determined by the patient’s care team
MWHC has restricted visitation since the start of the pandemic in March of this year. However, full restrictions have not been in place for several months.
“COVID-19 cases are three times what they were in the Spring,” says Dr. Newman. “We know that restricting visitation creates added stress for our patients and their loved ones. We made this decision knowing it is for everyone’s safety. Our team is prepared to support our patients and their families in connecting through phone calls and video chats.”
MWHC will continue to assess visitation restrictions based on community cases and COVID-19 patient volumes. Visitation status and restrictions can be found online at https://www.marywashingtonhealthcare.com/COVID-19/Visitation-During-COVID-19-Red.aspx.
MWHC leadership implores our community to do their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19: wear a mask indoors and outside when in proximity of anyone not from your immediate household; physically distance (greater than six feet) from those outside of your immediate household; stay home whenever possible; and practice good hand hygiene.
If you are experiencing symptoms and not sure where to seek care, call the MWHC free triage line. The Health Link nurses are available daily from 6:00 a.m. to midnight.
