Sentara revises visitor regulations for hospitals and emergency rooms

Effective Monday, June 14, non-COVID patients inside Sentara hospitals and emergency rooms are allowed two visitors (up from one visitor) if the positivity rate in that region is below 5 per cent for two consecutive weeks.

Based on current COVID-19 dashboard data from the Virginia Department of Health and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, all Sentara hospitals except for Sentara Albemarle Medical Center (SAMC) will allow two visitors. The positivity rate in Pasquotank County where SAMC is located is currently 6.7 per cent.

The same exceptions to the visitor policy still apply. Those include:
COVID-19 confirmed patients (who are not end-of-life patients) or patients awaiting COVID-19 test results continue to have no visitors, regardless of hospital location.
End-of-life patients who have COVID-19 may have one visitor inside the room in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Hospital staff will provide PPE for the visitor aside from the mask the visitor is required to wear when entering the hospital.
End-of-life patients who have COVID-19 AND are undergoing any Aerosol Generating Procedure (for example, intubation, on a ventilator or on high flow oxygen), can have one visitor outside of the room.
The same Visitor Safety Guidelines still apply. Those include:
Visitors age 12 and older are allowed at this time.
Visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering the facility.
Visitors are required to wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines.
Sentara will reassess the Visitor Guidelines in late June/early July and will provide an update. 

Updated Sentara Pre-op COVID-19 Testing Policy

Effective Monday, June 14, COVID-19 testing is no longer required for pre-op patients who have a scheduled surgery or procedure if they can show proof of being fully vaccinated from COVID-19. Fully vaccinated means the patient must be at least two weeks past the date of their second dose in a two-dose vaccine series, or two weeks past their first dose in a single-dose vaccine.

If a pre-op patient is not fully vaccinated or cannot show proof of vaccination, the patient must complete a COVID-19 test 48 hours in advance of certain scheduled surgeries or procedures. Patients who complete a pre-op COVID-19 test are required to self-quarantine between the test and procedure.

Patients with questions about whether or not they are required to complete a COVID-19 test should speak with their physicians.

Masking and Screening Reminder for all Healthcare Settings

As a reminder to our patients and community, masks are still required for all individuals inside healthcare settings, regardless of vaccination status, according to the CDC and state departments of health.

Healthcare settings include hospitals, doctors’ offices, long-term care facilities, acute care facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, home healthcare, vehicles where healthcare is delivered (for example, mobile clinics) and outpatient facilities such as dialysis centers.

All who are inside Sentara Healthcare clinical facilities in areas where patients are present are still required to wear a mask and screened for COVID-19 signs and symptoms before entering, regardless of vaccination status. Areas where patients are present include clinical areas like medical examination rooms or inpatient rooms, and common public areas such as elevators, lobbies, waiting rooms, cafeterias and hallways.