UPDATED: CRMC will not allow visitors after 7 p.m. as of March 17.
COOKEVILLE – Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC) recently updated its temporary visitation restrictions. It has made the decision to implement screening procedures with visitors effective Sunday, March 15.
“Due to rising numbers in the state, we have decided to implement visitor restrictions sooner than we planned,” stated Paul Korth, CRMC CEO. “As are other hospitals throughout Tennessee and the rest of the nation, we are taking this step to help protect our patients, community, and staff from coming in contact with the virus.”
TEMPORARY VISITATION RESTRICTIONS
For the safety of patients and staff, visitation is limited until further notice. To clarify changes from a previous news release, revisions are indicated in red.
The Birthing Center – EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
One identified support person only*
Inpatient Rehabilitation – EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
One identified support person per patient only*
Hospital Inpatients – EFFECTIVE SUNDAY, MARCH 15
Only two visitors* will be allowed per patient with the exception of isolation patients who will be allowed only one visitor (unless it is an end-of-life patient) to preserve PPE (personal protective equipment).
- All visitors will be screened before being allowed to visit inpatients.
- Screening will consist of a list of questions to determine risk of illness.
No visitors allowed for inpatients between 9:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. unless the visitor is already in the patient room. The visitor will not be able to come and go. It is requested that they remain in the room until morning.
Inpatients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
– No visitors will be allowed for adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
-One designated visitor will be allowed for patients who are under 18 or who are dependent adults living with parents. The designated visitor must remain in the room. A guest tray will be provided for meals.
*ALL VISITORS MUST BE 16 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
In addition, CRMC is limiting entry points for the public into the hospital beginning Sunday, March 15. Only three entrances will be available for public entry from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. – the main entrance/North Tower lobby, East Entrance, and the Emergency Department entrance. The Cancer Center entrance will remain open only for patients coming to the Cancer Center. No other visitors may access the hospital from that entrance. After hours, the only public entrance will remain through the Emergency Department.
People who think they may have coronavirus (COVID-19) should call ahead to their provider, clinic or emergency department before coming in. If symptoms are not severe, consider staying home and stay away from others. Typically COVID-19 will present with a fever plus a cough and or shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
At this time, COVID-19 testing is not available at CRMC upon request. Testing will only be done at the discretion of the provider on patients who meet defined criteria set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). It takes 2-4 days for test results.
CRMC will continue to provide timely updates to the community as they become available. This is a rapidly evolving situation. More information may be found online at:
CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html
TDH: https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html
CRMC: www.crmchealth.com/coronavirus
Tennessee Department of Health COVID-19 Public Information Hotline: 877-857-2945 (available 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily)
