Albany Standard

Tift Regional Medical Center issued the following announcement on Dec. 27. 

Effective Tuesday, December 28, 2021, visitor restrictions for Tift Regional Medical Center, Southwell Medical, and all clinics and departments of these facilities will upgrade to Orange. The upgrade in restrictions is in effect due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in our area. We ask that you review our visitation guidelines.

Southwell Facilities recognize that support from friends and family can play a positive role in the healing process. Even when you can’t visit in person, we encourage you to stay connected virtually. We ask our patients and families to partner with our healthcare professionals.

For our patients who are able to communicate for themselves and make decisions, we ask that the patient contact their loved ones directly with his or her progress toward recovery. For our patients who need assistance or cannot communicate for themselves, our team of healthcare professionals will contact the patient’s next of kin or emergency contact to give information and updates. We ask that this designated contact share the updates with other family members.

To reach a patient advocate for assistance, please call our Healthcare Concierge at (229) 353-CARE.

Remember:

• Socially distance.

• Wash your hands frequently.

• Southwell Facilities require patients, visitors and staff to wear masks while in the facility.

LEVEL ORANGE VISITATION

Hospitalized Adult Patients:

• COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS (PPE provided): No visitors

• COVID-19 NEGATIVE PATIENTS: One visitor

Appointments and Procedures for Adults (without a hospital stay including clinic visits):

• COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS (PPE provided): No visitors

• COVID-19 NEGATIVE PATIENTS: One visitor. Minor children of an adult patient allowed at clinic visits.

Emergency Department - Adult Patients:

• COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS (PPE provided): No visitors

• COVID-19 NEGATIVE PATIENTS: One visitor; visitors may switch out

Prenatal Appointments:

• COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS (PPE provided): No visitors

• COVID-19 NEGATIVE PATIENTS: One visitor. Minor children of an adult patient allowed at clinic visits.

Labor and Delivery:

• COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS (PPE provided): One Support Person

• COVID-19 NEGATIVE PATIENTS: Two visitors. Support Person does not count as a visitor.

Appointments, Procedures, and Hospitalizations for Pediatric Patients:

• COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS (PPE provided): One designated parent or guardian

• COVID-19 NEGATIVE PATIENTS: Two parents or guardians

Emergency Department - Pediatric Patients:

• COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS (PPE provided): One designated parent or guardian

• COVID-19 NEGATIVE PATIENTS: One visitor. Visitors may switch out.

PLEASE NOTE: A patient’s provider may make compassionate exceptions, when appropriate. For patients receiving joint procedures, one designated coach may stay overnight. The visitor(s) may visit each day during the patient’s hospital stay. Once a visitor leaves the building, he/she may not return for visitation until the following day.

If a visitation exception exists, the visitor/patient must meet the following requirements:

• The visitor remains in the patient’s room for the duration of the visit except when obtaining nourishment from cafeteria.

• The patient is not a Person under investigation (PUI) or COVID-19 positive (unless at end of life).

Additional restrictions and/or different level visitation may apply to specific units, clinics or departments.

VISITING HOURS AND ENTRY LOCATIONS

Tift Regional Medical Center:

Inpatient Visitation

• Entry Location: 18th Street Entrance

• Hours: Daily 10 am to 6 pm

Outpatient Testing

• Entry Point: 18th Street Entrance

• Hours: Daily 7 am to 7 pm

• Entry Point: Garage Entrance

• Hours: Monday-Friday 5 am to 5 pm (closed on weekends)

Endoscopy, Surgery, and Heart and Vascular Center

• Entry Point: Garage Entrance

• Hours: Monday-Friday 5 am to 5 pm (closed on weekends)

Southwell Medical

All Services

• Entry Point: Main Entrance

• Hours: Daily 10 am to 6 pm

Note: Changes to Visitation Hours and Locations will be posted on entry points as needed.

Original source can be found here.