VISIT US
This facility will allow visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel and can be conducted through different means based on the facility’s structure and residents’ needs, such as in resident rooms, dedicated visitation spaces, and outdoors. The visitation will be person-centered, consider the resident’s physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being, and support their quality of life. Exceptions will be in accordance with current CMS directives and CDC recommendations, or as directed by state government (whichever is more stringent). Please call the center for additional information.
VISITATION DURING A COMMUNICABLE DISEASE OUTBREAK including, but not limited to, COVID-19
This facility will implement heightened surveillance activities for communicable disease during periods of transmission in the community, an outbreak in the facility, and/or during a declared public health emergency for the illness. The facility may modify visitation practices when there are infectious outbreaks or pandemics to align with current CMS guidance and CDC guidelines (Refer to specific COVID-19 Visitation Policy as indicated at the center).
Policy Explanation and Compliance Guidelines:
- The Infection Preventionist will monitor the status of communicable disease in the community, maintain communication with local and state health departments, and will keep facility leadership informed of the need for heightened surveillance activities. (Refer to Surveillance policies at the center.)
- The facility will stay in contact with the local health authorities for guidance or direction on how to structure visitation to reduce the risk of communicable disease transmission during an outbreak.
- The facility will post adequate signage with instructions for infection prevention, i.e., hand hygiene, cough etiquette, etc.
- The facility will ensure all visitors have access to hand hygiene supplies and masks.
- Restrictions may be placed to prevent community-associated infection or communicable disease transmission to one or more residents. A resident’s risk factors for infection (e.g., immunocompromised condition) or current health state (e.g., end-of-life care) should be considered when restricting visitors.
- Resident’s family members are not subject to visiting hour limitations or other restrictions not imposed by the resident, except for reasonable clinical and safety restrictions, placed by the facility based on recommendations of CMS, CDC, or the local health department.
- In general, visitors with signs and symptoms of a transmissible infection (e.g., a visitor is febrile and exhibiting signs and symptoms of an influenza-like illness) should defer visitation until they are no longer potentially infectious (e.g., 24 hours after resolution outbreak of fever without antipyretic medication), or according to CDC guidelines, and/or local health department recommendations.
- The facility will offer alternatives to traditional visitation, such as outdoor visits, indoor designated visitation areas, and/or virtual communications (phone, video-communication). Staff will be alert to psychosocial needs and take actions that would allow visitation to occur safely despite the presence of contagious infection.
- During a communicable disease outbreak, while not recommended, residents who are on transmission-based precautions (TBP) can still receive visitors. In these cases, before visiting residents who are on TBP, visitors will be made aware of the potential risk of visiting and precautions necessary to visit the resident. Visitors will adhere to principles of infection prevention.
- Facility will keep families informed of visitation policies through listserv communication, designated primary contact for inbound calls, or regular outbound calls. Implement emergency communication procedures as needed.