Care During COVID-19  |  Obtenga la información más reciente aquí

Visitation Policy

General Visitor Information

Visitor Screening

Upon arrival, all visitors must stop at the building entrance to be screened for COVID-19 under these guidelines:

  • Fever - a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher

Patients who have not checked in electronically will be screened for the following:

  • New cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty breathing

Except in our Emergency Departments and Express Care sites, visitors who screen positive for these COVID-19 symptoms are not allowed to enter our buildings and will be directed to call our hotline at 440-59-COVID (440-592-6842).

Visitation Policy

Exceptions

  • Obstetric patients may have 1 consistent adult support person.
  • Pediatric patients may have parents or guardians, not to exceed 2 visitors, for length of time cleared by attending.
  • Nursery/Neonatal Intensive Care patients may have birth parent plus 1 significant-other visit as cleared by attending.
  • Patients who are at the end-of-life may have up to 2 visitors, for length of time cleared by attending.
  • Patients with altered mental status, cognitive impairment, developmental delays, or disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to their care, may have 1  visitor.
  • Patients who require a home caregiver(s) to be trained may have up to 2 visitors.
  • Patients undergoing surgery or procedure may have 1 visitor and the visitor must leave the medical center as soon as possible after the procedure/surgery.

Appointments

If you are an adult patient seeking care or testing:

  • Check in electronically prior to the appointment (see MyChart). 
  • Travel to the appointment alone.
  • Bring a mask or face covering to wear.
  • You will be screened for a fever as you enter the building.
  • If you were unable to check in electronically, you will be screened for new cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Exceptions

Guests or visitors are permitted to accompany adult patients when special assistance is required, or if medically necessary.

  • Special assistance includes:
    • Drivers for ambulatory and surgical procedures
    • Support person to manage a wheelchair or other special needs
    • Receiving news on disease progression
    • Patients with language access barriers
  • Medically necessary includes:
    • Patients with cognitive impairment.
      • Examples include dementia, intellectual disability, and TBI
    • Patient with altered mental status.
      • Examples include confusion and disorientation (often seen in older adults) 
    • Behavioral health adult patients that require guardianship
    • In the case of a newborn visit following a C-section, a guest can accompany the parent to carry the baby
  • Patients having surgery may have 1 visitor on the day of surgery.
  • Pediatric patients, elderly patients, and patients with cancer are permitted to bring 1 guest, parent, or guardian.
  • We understand that it may be necessary to bring children to unplanned visits when childcare is not available and will do our best to accommodate this. Children over the age of two should wear a mask throughout the visit.

Except in our Express Care sites and Emergency Departments, any person who appears ill, fails screening, or has a temperature above 100.4 F degrees will be denied access.

Emergency Department Exceptions

In the following situations, 1 adult may accompany the patient:

  • Patients younger than age 18 may have the same 1 adult visitor during evaluation in the Emergency Department.
  • Trauma
  • "End of life" situations
  • Behavioral health patients:
    • Behavioral health adult patients that require guardianship
    • Behavioral health minor patients with a guardian or caregiver
  • Patients with cognitive impairment.
    • Examples include dementia, intellectual disability, and TBI
  • Patient with altered mental status.
    • Examples include confusion and disorientation (often seen in older adults) 
  • Patients with language access barriers
  • Maternity may have 1 consistent adult support person.

No visitors are permitted for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases (unless patient is a minor and may have one (1) limited to parent/guardian).

Additional Restrictions for Visitors and Accompanying Guardians or Caregivers

  • Any person who appears ill, fails screening, or fails temporal check will be denied access.
  • No person will be allowed in rooms of Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) or COVID-19 positive patients (unless at end of life).
  • Visitation Access Restriction policy includes MetroHealth Employees that have family members who are in the hospital.
  • All visitors permitted on the unit must stay in the room for the duration of the visit.
  • Exceptions to the exclusion of visitors and length of time for visitation will be individualized and take into consideration what is in the best interest of patient care and safety of patients and employees. 
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