New Visitor Restrictions

Wayne HealthCare to Reinstate No Visitor Policy in Response to COVID-19 Surge

Greenville, OH – November 17, 2020

To continue to protect the safety of our patients, staff and community at large, beginning Friday, November 20 at 7 a.m., Wayne HealthCare is reinstituting a no visitor policy, with compassionate exceptions. Please note that ALL hospital departments REMAIN OPEN, and Wayne HealthCare continues to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of everyone who enters our hospital.

“Like other hospitals across the state and region, Wayne HealthCare is seeing an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to COVID-19,” said Kim Freeman, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Wayne HealthCare. “Implementing these heightened restrictions is not a decision we take lightly as we understand the importance of visitation for both patients and their loved ones, and that’s why we’ve included some important exceptions” added Freeman.

Exceptions to the revised visitor policy include the following:

• Maternity patients may have one (1) visitor. If the patient is a minor (under the age of 18), they may have two (2) visitors (parents/guardians).
• End-of-life patients. Visitation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
• Patients who are minors may have two (2) visitors (parents or guardians) in the emergency department and inpatient setting.
• Patients with impairments may have one (1) visitor.
• Outpatient surgery/procedure patients may have one (1) visitor.

All visitors granted exceptions will be screened prior to entry and must be free of any COVID-19 symptoms. No visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed unless they are the parent or legal guardian of a pediatric patient.

During this time, we encourage family members to connect with their loved ones via virtual platforms, such as smartphones, tablets and other devices.

These heightened visitor restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.

As always, we appreciate everyone’s understanding as we continue to do everything in our power to slow the spread of the virus.