Visitor Policies Due to Coronavirus/COVID-19 Outbreak

*As the severity of the outbreak changes, visitor restrictions may also change.

Due to the growing spread of coronavirus / COVID-19 in North Carolina, Nash UNC Health Care announced that it will be enacting restrictions for visitors at its facilities. Visitor Restrictions are a set of precautions the hospital takes to prevent the spread of illness to patients, visitors and staff.

Limited Entrances

Entry points have been limited in order to effectively manage the screenings. The entrances available for patients, visitors and staff to enter are:

• Nash General Hospital front lobby
• Emergency Department
• Heart Center
• Women's Center
• Mayo Surgery Pavilion (5:45am - 5:30pm)
• Nash Day Hospital (7:00am - 5:00pm)
• Cancer Center (7:00am - 4:30pm)
• Coastal Plain Hospital
• Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center
• Main Hospital Loading Dock (Staff & Vendors Only)

All other entry points will be disabled for entry, and only able to be opened for exiting the building.

Health Screening

All patients and visitors will be subject to health screening upon entrance.

The staff member performing the health screening will ask about symptoms associated with respiratory illness. If a patient or visitor meet the risk factors in the screening questions, they may be directed to self-isolate and contact their primary care provider or the Health Department.

Some entrances have technology that automatically checks temperature when walking by, though temperature checks are not required at this time. 

Mask Policy for Patients & Visitors

Nash UNC requires all patients, visitors and staff members to wear a mask while on the Nash UNC campus. Masks will be issued upon arrival if you do not already have one. To learn more about how we are keeping you safe during a visit to our facilities, visit our safety when seeking medical care page.

Additional personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gowns and gloves, may be required depending on who you are visiting and that patient’s situation. 

Visitors

Non-COVID inpatients will be limited to one undesignated visitor for the duration of their stay. Visitors may switch out as needed as long as only one visitor is with the patient.  

Nash Women's Center

The new non-COVID inpatient visitor restrictions will also apply in the Nash UNC Women's Center, but birthing mothers may have one additional support personnel (ex: a doula) in addition to the one visitor maximum. This will help us continue to accommodate various patient birthing plans.

Emergency Department

Emergency Department patients will be allowed one visitor once they are in a treatment room. For the safety of patients, visitors, and staff, visitors will not be allowed in the waiting room lobby while a patient is waiting for a room. For COVID or COVID suspected patients in the ED, visitors are not permitted.

The Pediatric Emergency Department will continue to allow one designated visitor per patient. 

Visitation for COVID Positive Patients

COVID inpatients will be allowed one designated visitor during scheduled times by the unit. Visitors will be required to put on full personal protective equipment (PPE) for the duration of the visit and must remove the PPE appropriately after the visit. Nash UNC staff members will assist with PPE education. (Please note: For their safety, children 12 and under are not permitted to visit COVID patients.)

For all policies, visitor exceptions will be granted for end of life situations, or extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of the care team.

Vendors / Contractors

Only vendors and contractors who are essential to patient care and business operations will be allowed onsite on an as-needed basis. Vendors and contractors who do not directly support patient care and critical business operations should work remotely and will not be allowed in Nash UNC Health Care facilities until further notice.

Volunteers

Hospital volunteers are permitted at Nash UNC Health Care.

Students

Students are allowed to come back to Nash UNC Health Care's campus for onsite training and shadowing.