By: 1812Blockhouse Staff, OhioHealth; Avita Health System
It is perhaps not surprising that the two health systems with the largest footprint in Richland County announced changes in visitation rules on the same day.
Those for Avita Health System became effective on Monday, with those of OhioHealth taking effect on Tuesday.
In both cases, one visitor per patient is allowed as a general rule in specific places and at specific times.
For OhioHealth, all hospitals, emergency departments, surgery, invasive procedure areas, and Physician Group offices are open to a single visitor designated by each patient. That designee can visit daily for the remainder of the patient’s stay.
This does not include laboratories, imaging, and rehabilitation centers.
Avita’s allows one visitor per day (no overnight visitation) at Bucyrus, Galion, and Ontario Hospitals, as well as Walk-In Clinics and medical offices.
The following additional rules apply according to the press releases shared on Monday:
OhioHealth
- All visitors will be required to wear a mask while in an OhioHealth facility, except while eating, and be asymptomatic of COVID-19 symptoms.
- The following exceptions will be made for patients in unique medical situations:
- Patients that have tested positive for COVID-19 – No visitors allowed with exceptions for end-of-life situations.
- Patients receiving behavioral health care – No visitors allowed for behavioral health patients.
- Patients receiving end-of-life care – Acute end-of-life patients may have up to three visitors at any given time, and no maximum number of visitors per day.
- Patients receiving neonatal, pediatric, adolescent care – Minor patients may have two parents or guardians visit
- Visitors with disabilities who need assistance – Caretakers for visitors who are disoriented, disabled or in need of an interpreter are permitted.
- Maternity patients are limited to one support person, who may stay at the hospital for duration of the stay, but if they exit, they will need to re-enter next day. If the mother is a minor, she may have a parent or guardian visitor in addition to the father of the baby. Care sites with NICUs will follow Nationwide Children’s Hospital visitor management policy.
Avita Health System
- Visitation for hospital patients is 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- Avita is allowing two visitors per day for maternity patients and newborn office appointments.
- Patients receiving end-of-life care have no restriction on the number of daily visitors, but only two will be permitted at a time.
- Visitors will be allowed to use the hospital cafeterias, but the general public is still not permitted.
Many of Avita’s COVID-19 precautions are still in effect and now pertain to visitors, including universal masking, one entrance per hospital, and health screening for all who enter the hospitals. Avita CEO and President Jermoe Morasko shared, “If you’re not able to visit your loved one in the hospital due to illness or location, our team can help families video chat. We implemented this communication tool when our no visitors policy went into effect and it’s been well-received by our patients and their families.”
Image by cor gaasbeek from Pixabay
