Safety First:
Visitor Policy Update July 22, 2021
For the protection of our patients, staff and community, DeKalb Regional Medical Center will allow up to TWO competent caregivers per non-COVID patient in a 24-hour period. Visitation will remain limited for COVID-positive patients except in special circumstances to include end-of-life circumstances, pediatric patients and Labor & Delivery.
Visitation policy
Visitors must follow the below requirements:
- All visitors must comply with entrance screening at designated points of entry.
- Entry will be denied to anyone who tests positive for symptoms of COVID-19, such as temperature above 100.4, cough or shortness of breath.
- Visitation will only be available between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. No visitation will be allowed after 5 p.m.
- While visiting, caregivers must remain in the patient’s room and not leave the designated area except for basic personal needs (food, restroom, etc.).
- Non-COVID Inpatient caregivers will not be allowed to rotate with any other caregivers during this 24-hour period in consideration of limiting exposure.
Guidance for Other Areas:
Non-COVID Emergency Department
- One caregiver will be allowed during the entirety of the patient’s stay in the Emergency Department. The caregiver will not be allowed to rotate with any other caregiver.
Surgical/Procedural Guidance
- One caregiver may accompany the patient to assist with entry into the hospital and registration. Caregivers who choose to wait in the facility are asked to remain in the patient’s room and not leave the unit until the patient is ready to be discharged home.
Inpatient Psychiatry Units
- Two visitors are allowed per day for patients on the Senior Care Unit by appointment only (Call 256-997-2725).
ICU
- Two visitors are allowed per day for patients in ICU by appointment only (Call 256-997-2485).
Women's Services
- Each non-COVID positive patient will be allowed two caregivers to accompany them throughout their stay.
- COVID positive or PUI patients are allowed one caregiver to be present during labor. The caregiver will be required to follow special instructions from clinical staff related to the patient’s COVID-19 status. The caregiver must leave upon the COVID positive patient’s transfer to postpartum.
Even if you meet these visitor criteria, if you have respiratory symptoms, fever, sore throat or a runny nose, we ask that you still do not visit patients in the hospital at this time.