The New Jersey Hospital Association has created a color-coded policy to set standard safety precautions for patients, visitors and staff based on the severity of COVID-19 cases at the facility.
The policy deals with four areas: COVID-19 levels in the community, in the hospital, healthcare staffing levels, and PPE supplies. The goal is to balance visitation time with the safety of patients, visitors, and staff.
Signs depicting the color level will be posted at the main entrance, in all nursing areas, on the website and social media to alert the public to the guideline requirements.
During levels green, yellow and red, no visitors are allowed for COVID or immunocompromised patients.
In levels green and yellow, other patients may have one visitor per patient. Visitors must follow mask, screening, and other precaution requirements.
During Level Red, no visitors are allowed in the hospital unless an exception is made by the primary care team.
The following requirements are also included in this policy. All visitors must:
- Be 18 or older, unless approved by the care team
- Wear the appropriate PPE including surgical-grade masks
- Undergo symptom and temperature checks upon entering the hospital
- Perform hand hygiene before visiting a patient
- Comply with hospital requirements to minimize the potential of spread of infection
- Remain in the patient’s room or emergency department throughout the visit, except when directed otherwise by staff
To see complete details of the color-coded visitation requirements, visit smc.health/smc-adopts-color-coded-visitation-requirements/