Caring for and protecting our patients, families, employees, and the community during COVID-19 is of the utmost importance to Luminis Health. As a patient- and family-centered organization, we continue to review and update our visitor guidelines and practices as the situation changes.
Below are the most up-to-date guidelines across Anne Arundel Medical Center, effective Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. While temporary restrictions remain in place, exceptions and guidelines for specific areas are below. General guidelines apply to all visitors.
General guidelines for all patients, family members and support persons
Hospital Guidelines
- Visitation hours are from 11 am-8 pm. Exceptions depend on circumstances noted below.
- Family members/Support persons must wear a facemask at all times, covering mouth and nose, at all times. Bandanas, scarves and vented masks are not as effective. If a family member/support person needs a mask, we will supply one at entry.
- Family members/Support persons must check-in upon arrival at the entrances to the hospital.
- We will give family members/support persons a “welcome sticker” after the successful completion of a brief health screening. A successful health screen means there is no indication of a fever or sign of respiratory illness.
- An adult must accompany minors under the age of 18.
- Family members/Support persons must wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon entry into or exit from patient rooms.
- Family members/Support persons should stay in the patient room or treatment area. Family members/Support persons should limit trips to the cafeteria, public restrooms, and other public areas.
- Family members/Support persons should limit personal belongings brought onto campus.
- Family members/support persons should stop at the front desk to check out when leaving the hospital. After checking out, please exit promptly.
- Waiting rooms are only for the Emergency Department and Procedural Care areas with appropriate social distance and maximum capacity honored.
- Family members/Support persons should not gather in lounges, lobbies, or hallways.
- Family members/Support persons attending palliative, hospice, or goals of care meetings may have up to three persons in a meeting room. Two persons may be at the bedside.
- Family members/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. If under the age of 18, two consistent parents/support persons may be present during their stay.
- Clergy of any denomination may visit a patient at any time. They will not count in the visitor max.
- Family members/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 at all times. 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.
Ambulatory Clinic Guidelines
Donner Pavilion
- Patients and support person must arrive no more than five minutes prior to the appointment.
- Patients and support person must wear a mask upon arrival. We will provide a facemask if the patient or family member/support person arrives with bandanas, scarves or vented masks.
- We will screen family members/support person for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival to the practice
- Social distancing is required in the waiting area. We will ask patients and their support person to wait in a common area if social distancing isn’t possible.
Ambulatory Practices, Sajak, Wayson, and Belcher Pavilion
- Patients and support person must arrive five minutes prior to the appointment.
- Patients and support person must wear a mask upon arrival. We will provide a facemask if the patient or family member/support person arrives with bandanas, scarves or vented masks.
- We will screen family members/support person for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival to the practice.
- Social distancing is required in the waiting area. If social distancing isn’t possible, we will ask patients and their support person to move to an exam room, wait in a different common area or wait in their car. The patient will receive a phone call from the practice when it is time to enter.
Specific Considerations Guidelines
General Hospital Visitation Guidelines
- All non-COVID-19 patients and/or recovered COVID-19 patients off isolation may have one designated daily family member/support person visit per day.
- The designated family member/support person may change each day.
Acute Life-Threatening Event
- All patients, including those with COVID-19 positive results, may have up to two family members/support persons at bedside, allowed 24/7 on all units.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Because of the intensive or critical care needs of these patients, up to two family members/support persons per day may visit from 8 am-8pm for patients with COVID-19 negative or positive results.
End of Life
- If the health care team deems the patient is at end of life, the care team will contact the family (as defined by patient).
- Patients who have COVID-19 negative or positive results may have up to two family members/support persons at bedside, 24/7 on all units.
- Family members/Support persons may switch throughout the visit.
- An adult must be with minors under 18. The minor counts as the second visitor.
Patients with Disabilities
All licensed Maryland health care facilities shall comply with applicable U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance and state and federal regulations and recognize the rights and needs for individuals with disabilities. The term “disability” means, with respect to an individual: A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities for such individual, a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.
A support person may be appropriate for, but is not limited to, patients with intellectual, developmental, physical or neurocognitive disabilities. Major life activities can include but are not limited to such activities as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
A support person can include, but is not limited to family members, personal care assistants, disability service providers, or individuals knowledgeable about the management or care of the patient who is authorized to assist the patient in making decisions.
- One support person may accompany, visit, and stay with a patient 24/7 during their visits to health care facilities. Access is applicable to all patients, who meet disability criteria, including those with COVID-19 positive results. We will issue PPE (mask, gown, gloves, and eye protection). The support person must wear PPE during the entire visit/appointment.
- Admitted patients are welcome to have one additional family member/support person present during the hours of 11 am- 8 pm in addition to their support person.
- We will screen all support persons for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival and periodically during their stay if appropriate. Anyone with symptoms or who answers yes to the screening questions is not able to visit or serve as the support person for the patient.
- We will instruct support persons on how to utilize and conserve PPE. Support persons shall adhere to all PPE procedures.
- Support persons are able to access public restrooms, cafeteria/vending areas while in the health care facility. We do ask that these trips are limited when possible.
- We may ask support persons to leave the room during certain procedures.
- If a caregiver, support person, or family member cannot be present, they may contact a member of the health care team for an update on the patient’s status. The health care team will contact the appropriate next of kin or legal representative for medical care decisions or emergent situations. Video conferencing is available if needed or desired.
- We will provide a copy of the Access to Support for Patients with Disabilities in Health Care Settings Policy and the Support Persons for Individuals with Disabilities Notice to all patients.
- If other accommodations are needed or for additional questions contact the following:
- Patient Advocacy, seven days a week from 9 am – 5 pm at 443-481-6890 (modified holiday hours).
- Hospital Administrator, after hours seven days a week from 5 pm – 9 pm at 443-481-5909.
J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center and Pathways campus
- To best protect the safety and wellbeing of our patients, visitors, and staff; visitors are not permitted at this time.
Women and Children’s Services
- One consistent support person may accompany maternity patients.
- NICU patients are allowed to have the mother and a consistent support person (both will have security bands).
- Post-Partum readmits may have one support person and their infant with them. The infant must be attended by their support person at all times.
Pediatrics
- Two consistent parents/support persons may be with the patient during their entire stay. Applicable to all patients, including those who have COVID-19 positive results.
- If siblings are present and have no one to care for them, please contact leadership.
Emergency Department
- One family member/support person is welcome to remain with a patient through their stay in the Emergency Department.
- If critically ill, two family members (defined by patient/family) may be present per above “Acute Life-Threatening” guidelines.
Surgical/Procedural Patients
- The patient is welcome to have one family member/support person remain with them through registration and the pre-operative stay before their procedure. We will ask the family member/support person to leave and wait off campus once the patient is taken in for their procedure.
- Once the patient is ready for pick up or settled into their inpatient room, hospital staff will contact the family member/support person. Visitation times will be 11 am-8 pm.
We appreciate your understanding during these extraordinary times. We are confident that together we will continue to deliver the highest quality of care.
