Vanderbilt Medical Center, it's related hospitals and clinics, has implemented a COVID-19 visitation policy to protect it's patients and visitors.
The new policy reads:
UPDATED RESTRICTED VISITOR POLICY -- EFFECTIVE MARCH 18, 2020
Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time. Be assured that our patients are getting exceptional care from our outstanding physicians, nurses, and staff in a way that protects their safety and that of others.
Please note that instructions may differ slightly among our hospitals. See below for details for Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
Vanderbilt University Hospital
Beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, visitors will no longer be allowed in the hospital beginning tonight (Wednesday, March 18) at 8:00 p.m. This includes the Emergency Department as well as inpatient areas.
Visitors who are already staying with patients will need to leave by noon Thursday, March 19.
There are a few exceptions to this policy:
Women giving birth can have 1 birthing partner, care partner, or doula.
Patients coming for outpatient surgery or testing can have 1 caregiver.
All visitors must be screened for symptoms of illness.
To help with these new rules, the main front entrance to the hospital will be open only from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. (The Emergency Department entrance to the hospital will remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.)
We ask that family members and caregivers not call the unit for updates unless it is an emergency. Instead, we will ask each patient to pick a single person for the care team to communicate with. That person will be given a designated time at which we will contact them with updates.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital
The health and wellbeing of our patients, visitors, and staff are important to us at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) only one (1) person (parent, legal guardian, or persons involved in the care of the patient) will be allowed in the hospital. This person must be 16 years of age or older.
All family members must use the 2nd Floor Sky Bridge entrance (Blue Door) and will be screened before going to your child’s room. Anyone who screens positive will not be allowed in the hospital.
Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital
For the continued protection of our patients, staff, and community, Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital is moving to a no-visitation policy.
Beginning March 18th at 8 pm we will stop allowing visitors to our inpatient areas and Emergency Room.
Beginning at 7 am on Thursday, March 19th we will ask all visitors who are currently staying with patients to leave.
Exceptions to this policy are as follows:
OB patients will be allowed to have 1 birthing or care partner or doula
Patients coming for outpatient surgery or outpatient testing will be allowed to have 1 caregiver accompanying them
These family members or visitors will be screened for symptoms of illness
To facilitate this process, access to the hospital will be further restricted to the following entrances:
The hospital entrance through the emergency department will be open 24/7
The entrance at the front of the building will be open from 7 am – 5 pm
The front entrance of the ambulatory surgery center will be used for those patients and their families/visitors
Communicating with patients in the hospital and receiving updates:
Please consider alternative communication methods as available and appropriate such as phone, FaceTime, texting, or other electronic methods
Patients will be asked to identify 1 point of contact for the care team to communicate with and calls will be handled in the following manner:
Each patient will be assigned a designated time in which the nurse will call the identified point of contact to communicate patient updates.
We ask that family members and caregivers refrain from calling the unit for information unless there is an emergency.
Vanderbilt Behavioral Health
No visitors with patients admitted to the hospital, with these exceptions:
1 parent or caregiver with a child
1 caregiver with patients having ECT.
No visitors for patients who are suspected or confirmed as having COVID-19.
All Vanderbilt Clinics (Adult and Pediatric)
1 person accompanying the patient, whether adult or child