UVa relaxes masking policy

UVa Health also said it would revert its visitor policy to what it was before the pandemic began.

“Following the latest guidance from UVA Health’s infection prevention and control team, this month the UVA Medical Center and other facilities in the Charlottesville area, as well as UVA Health locations in Culpeper and Northern Virginia, will implement new masking and visitation policies. will be enforced,” said UVa. Health said in a statement.

Starting at 7:00 am on April 18, UVa Medical Center, University Hospitals, and Charlottesville-area clinical facilities will make masking optional in all administrative buildings and locations, including research areas. In outpatient clinics and outpatient imaging locations. Ivy Road Orthopedic Center. At the Ambulatory Surgery Center; in the West Complex on Jefferson Park Avenue. Except for shared transplant and surgery clinic spaces and dialysis centers.

University hospitals, emergency departments, transplant clinics, cancer clinics, infusion centers, and dialysis centers continue to require masks.

Regarding visits, “University Hospital at UVA Medical Center will return to its pre-COVID-19 pandemic visitation policy,” the health system said, adding two important notes.

For inpatients: UVa Health limits, restricts or otherwise denies visitation privileges unless the visitation is medically or therapeutically destructive or violates the rights or safety of the patient or the rights or safety of others. It is not. Only one girlfriend is allowed and must be 18 years or older. A pediatric patient may have two night visitors. Visitors may be restricted for other reasons, such as infection control or privacy concerns.

For COVID-19 patients: Two visitors at a time are allowed at the bedside from 8 AM to 9 PM. One designated visitor is allowed overnight at bedside for pediatric and disabled adult patients requiring bedside family caregiver or other special needs. The number of visits by designated visitors should be kept to the minimum necessary to support patient care.

The health system added that there are some differences in masking policies at Charlottesville hospitals compared to other UVa Health locations.

Starting Monday in Culpeper and Northern Virginia, the health system announced that masking will be an option at UVa Health Culpeper Medical Center, UVa Health Haymarket Medical Center, and UVa Health Prince William Medical Center. Outpatient clinics and outpatient imaging facilities. ambulatory surgery center; and UVa Health Caton Merchant House.

Masks will continue to be required at cancer clinics, dialysis clinics, infusion centers, and neonatal intensive care units outside the Charlottesville area, according to the health system.

Visits in Culpeper and Northern Virginia are also handled differently.

Culpeper and Northern Virginia’s UVA Health Hospital will also return to their pre-COVID-19 pandemic visitation policies.

at Culpeper Medical Center: Inpatients may visit up to two people at a time during visiting hours of 9:00am to 9:00pm. Visitors under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or adult in charge of the child.

Haymarket Medical Center and Prince William Medical Center: These hospitals typically allow unlimited visits 24 hours a day and strongly recommend that visitors consider the 9am-8pm time slot to support patient quiet time. doing. Some restrictions may be imposed based on factors such as patient condition and location within the hospital. Visitors under the age of 12 must be supervised by an adult during their visit.

UVa Health added that all of these policies are subject to change based on seasonal conditions and the prevalence of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses in the communities served. rice field.

Additionally, “Patients can request that their care team wear a mask during treatment and during clinic visits, if masking is optional. People with symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses.” must wear a mask at all times, regardless of location.”

For more information, see: uvahealth.com.