Temporary Changes to Visitor Policies
Fairfield Medical Center has been actively monitoring and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a patient-centered hospital, we must do everything we can to prevent the spread of this disease and protect our patients, staff and visitors. Please know visitation restrictions can change based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in our community. Effective Sept. 1, one visitor per patient is permitted at Fairfield Medical Center main campus location and outpatient clinics are permitting limited visitation during patient appointments. This visitor needs to be the same person for the visitation day. Learn more about inpatient and outpatient visitation below.
Fairfield Medical Center Main Campus Inpatient Visitation
One visitor per patient is permitted at Fairfield Medical Center during the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This visitor needs to be the same person for the visitation day. If a patient is being admitted after the approved visitation hours, the emergency department team is permitted to allow one visitor on the inpatient unit during this admission process.
Visitation exceptions are being made for the following patients at Fairfield Medical Center:
- Patients requiring an essential caregiver: One essential caregiver is permitted to assist patients requiring support and patients in emergency situations. Please call 740-243-1099 to define if you are an essential caregiver.
- Patient under the age of 18 years old: two identified guardians permitted during hospital stay or during a surgical procedure
- Maternity patients: one identified visitor permitted to stay overnight during hospital stay. In addition to the
one support person, doulas are permitted with the return and presentation of a negative COVID-19 screen. If
a mother who has delivered has been readmitted, newborns and one caregiver are permitted in the room. - Patient requesting clergy visitation: In addition to one visitor, one member of a clergy is permitted during visitation hours. Clergy is defined as an ordained clergy, such as a rabbi, priest, pastor, Islamic cleric, associate pastor, licensed minister, a Roman Catholic Eucharistic minister or an Episcopal hospital minister who is serving a congregation.
- Acute End-of-life circumstances: three visitors are permitted at a time. Patients with acute COVID-19 are permitted limited visitation.
For the safety of patients, visitors and staff, patients with confirmed COVID-19 and patients under investigation for COVID-19 are not permitted to have visitors at Fairfield Medical Center. Exceptions are made based on end-of-life circumstances. Please call 740-243-1099 to learn more about visitor restrictions and exceptions.
Outpatient Clinics
Visitation is limited at each outpatient clinic. Please contact your outpatient clinic to learn more about their visitation policy.
Exceptions may be made for essential caregivers in the following situations:
- Patients requiring an essential caregiver: One essential caregiver is permitted to assist patients requiring
support. i.e. physically compromised, developmentally disabled, and/or medical conditions, such as
dementia. - Patient under the age of 18 years old: one identified guardian permitted
Safety Guidelines for Visitors Who Meet Exceptions
Visitors who meet the visitation exceptions should be:
- 18 years of age or older
- Immediate family members, those holding power of attorney, guardians or patient representatives
- Healthy with no symptoms of illness, including cough, fever, or sudden shortness of breath
If symptoms present during visitation, please notify a staff member.
Please call 740-243-1099 to learn more about visitation exceptions.
Visitor exceptions at all Fairfield Medical Center facilities are required to do the following:
- Bring and wear their own face covering, have their temperature screened, and answer health screening
questions upon entry to building(s). - Main campus location will have all visitors sign-in and visibly wear a visitation badge
- While in Fairfield Medical Center facilities, visitors should remain in the patient’s room or exam area, respect social distancing guidelines and practice hand hygiene.
- Visitors are asked to please avoid leaving and re-entering the building(s).
