Granville Health System Limits Visitation
Granville Health System (GHS) announced on Tuesday new visitor restrictions have been put in place at Granville Medical Center and Brantwood Nursing & Rehab Center to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and other infectious diseases. The restrictions do not apply to those seeking medical treatment.
Although only seven cases of COVID-19 have been reported in North Carolina, including several cases in neighboring Wake County, the early initiation for additional restrictive visitation measures are precautionary and designed to help prevent against the possible spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases while also establishing key processes to protect healthcare workers, medical staff, and patients.
The following temporary restrictions apply to Granville Medical Center:
- Visitors to patient rooms and emergency department will be limited to no more than two people at a time. Exceptions will be considered for extraordinary circumstances.
- The hospital requests that children 12 years of age and younger not visit hospital patients, even when accompanied by adults. Exceptions will be considered for extraordinary circumstances.
- The hospital is also requiring all visitors to sanitize their hands when entering the hospital as well as entering and exiting patient rooms.
- Visitors and vendors who meet any of the following criteria should not visit Granville Medical Center, unless you are seeking medical care or have an appointment for care:
- Exhibit signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat.
- In the last 14 days, has had contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19, or are ill with respiratory illness.
- International travel within the last 14 days to countries with sustained community transmission. For updated information on affected countries visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/indel.html.
- Reside in a community where community-based spread of COVID-19 is occurring.
- Has been in contact with someone with or under investigation for COVID-19.
The following temporary limitations and restrictions apply to Brantwood Nursing & Rehab Center. Per CMS recommendations for counties in which a COVID-19 infection has occurred or adjacent to counties in which a COVID-19 infection has occurred, Brantwood will limit visitation as follows:
- No individuals will be allowed into Brantwood except as approved by the Brantwood administrator or her designee. Approval will only be granted for certain situations such as end of life situations or when a visitor is essential for a resident’s emotional well-being and care.
- In lieu of visits, the facility will offer alternative means of communication such as virtual communication including telephone calls and video-communication through resident or family-supplied devices.
- In cases when visitation is allowable, visitors will be instructed to limit their movement within the facility to the resident’s room and/or other designated areas as determined by the Brantwood Administrator or her designee. The facility will provide additional guidance limiting physical contact with residents and others while in the facility and specifying approved locations in the facility for visitation.
- When approved, visitation is limited to the hours of 9:00 am and 8:00 pm. Visitors will be screened before being allowed to visit. Exceptions will be considered for extraordinary circumstances.
- When approved, visitation to resident rooms is being limited to no more than two people at a time. Exceptions will be considered for extraordinary circumstances.
- Children 12 years of age or younger should not visit nursing home residents, even when accompanied by adults. Exceptions will be considered for extraordinary circumstances.
- When approved, all visitors must check-in and register at the front desk.
- In addition to limiting visitation, per CMS guidelines, Brantwood will actively screen and restrict visitation for those who meet the following criteria:
- Exhibit signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat.
- In the last 14 days, has had contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19, or are ill with respiratory illness.
- International travel within the last 14 days to countries with sustained community transmission. For updated information on affected countries visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/indel.html.
- Reside in a community where community-based spread of COVid-19 is occurring.
- Has been in contact with someone with or under investigation for COVID-19.
“We are adding these additional restrictions to limit the risk of infection in our hospital and nursing home,” said GHS Chief Nursing Officer Ann Marie Holtzman-Wheeler. “We take pride in caring for patients and recognize that patient care must include family care and will be as accommodating as possible during this temporary period of visitor restrictions. We ask for your cooperation so that we can maintain the safest possible environment for our staff, patients and residents of Brantwood.”
“Although COVID-19 is not currently widespread in North Carolina at this time according to the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, there is a bit of uncertainty for how the presence of COVID-19 will continue to develop in our region. This uncertainty has placed a strain on the supply chain and the potential spread of the virus regionally could have an impact on our hospital and nursing home patients as well as our valued staff,” said Chief Executive Officer John F. Snow. “As the sole community hospital in Granville County, we are implementing these preemptive measures today to help protect our community of patients and our healthcare staff.”
“These restrictions are designed for visitors, of course,” said Holtzman-Wheeler. “If you need medical attention, Granville Health System is prepared to evaluate your condition and provide care or arrange for tertiary care.”
If you have questions about the restrictions at Granville Medical Center, please call 919-690-3000. If you have questions about the restrictions at Brantwood Nursing & Rehab Center, please call 919-690-3334. If you want more information on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, please visit ncdhhs.gov.
