Visitation

We welcome patient visitors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For the health and safety of our patients and staff, during times of High Community Transmission, please always wear a hospital-provided mask over nose and mouth, including in a patient’s room, regardless of vaccination status.

During times when Community Transmission is not High, wearing a mask is optional, however, we ask that you self screen prior to entry by answering these questions:

1. Have you tested positive COVID-19 in the last 10 days?
2. Do you currently have any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, headache body aches)?
3. Have you had close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection in the past 10 days?
4. Do you live or work in a facility or unit experiencing a COVID Outbreak?

Practice good hand hygiene.

After 10:00 pm, all visitors who choose to stay must obtain a visitors pass from either the main entrance desk or the Emergency Department lobby desk for the safety and security of our patients, staff, and visitors.

To promote healing, some patients may have limited visitation during certain times.

There are special guidelines for the following departments:

• The Emergency Department allows only 2 visitors per patient at a time.
• The Intensive Care Unit and the Heart Care Unit allow visitors only over the age of 12 years old for patient safety and infection prevention guidelines.
• The Maternity Department:
  • Immediately following the birth of your baby, the recovery period will begin. During this minimum 2-hour period, visitors with the mother are limited to the one support person of mother’s choosing that was present during birth.
  • Only one support person is permitted to stay overnight.

As we navigate through the continued COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize the importance visitors have on the recovery process of our patients, and believe they are of utmost importance in maintaining patient-centered care here at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

• One designated visitor per COVID-19 patient will be permitted per patient stay. The same visitor may come and go while the patient is in isolation.
• Extenuating circumstances (end-of-life, hospice, family decision-making meetings) for additional visitors will still be granted on a case-by-case basis by Unit Nursing Leadership.
• The designated visitor will be required to wear PPE (gown, gloves, face shield, and hospital-grade mask).

Due to updated community CDC guidance, the designated visitor does not have to quarantine after exposure regardless of vaccination status but should monitor themselves for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.