To help prevent the transmission of COVID-19, Griffin Health is taking temporary precautions to protect visitors, caregivers, and the community.

All visitors to Griffin Hospital may enter through the hospital main entrance only and will be screened prior to entry for their safety and the safety of their loved ones. The screening process includes information about symptoms of respiratory illness. Based on screening results, visitation and entry may be restricted.

Individuals showing signs of COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) will be asked to return home and are invited to connect with their loved ones through virtual means, such as Skype, FaceTime, or telephone calls.

We appreciate your cooperation during this time of heightened concern.

Visitation for Patients Admitted at Griffin Hospital:

• All Griffin Hospital encourages all patients and visitors to be vaccinated, but will no longer require proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or proof of a negative PCR test result within the last 72 hours to enter the hospital.
  
• Patients who are on isolation for COVID-19 infection will be able to designate a single Care Partner that can be with them during their stay but will not otherwise be permitted to have visitors. Care Partners will be required to use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment while in the patient room and follow all established infection control protocols. Care Partners for patients on isolation for COVID-19 infection will be encouraged to stay in the patient room as much as possible and will be asked to not visit any other areas of the hospital, including the cafeteria.
• Patients who are on airborne infection control precautions for COVID-19 infection will generally not be permitted to have a Care Partner or visitors. Special exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
• Patients in the CP South Inpatient Psychiatric Unit will be permitted one visitor at a time.
• Patients admitted to the Childbirth Center (CBC) will be permitted to have one visitor at a time, providing that the visitor is fully vaccinated* for COVID-19 or has proof of a negative PCR test result within the last 72 hours, is screened upon entry, and is asymptotic. The visitor will be encouraged to stay in the CBC and not visit other areas of the hospital.
• Exceptions will be made for special circumstances on a case-by-case basis, which will include allowing visitors for end of life situations, patients with disabilities or difficulty communicating, and patients under investigation for COVID-19 for the purposes of discharge to a nursing facility.
• Any visitor that stays more than 12 hours will be rescreened for temperature by the nursing team on the unit.

Visitation for the Emergency Department (ED):

• Patients will be permitted to have one visitor with them, but the visitor will be asked to stay in the room with the patient.
• Patients who have an active COVID-19 infection or who are isolated pending results will not be permitted to have visitors.
• Exceptions will be made for special circumstances on a case-by-case basis, which will include allowing visitors for end of life situations, patients with disabilities or difficulty communicating, and patients under investigation for COVID-19 for the purposes of discharge to a nursing facility.
• Any visitor that stays more than 12 hours will be rescreened for temperature by the nursing team on the unit.

Visitation for Outpatient Services:

• Griffin Hospital - Patients coming to Griffin for outpatient testing may be accompanied by one caregiver.
• Ambulatory Care Center and Cancer Center - Patients coming to Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology and the Ambulatory Care Center will be allowed to have one caregiver accompany them to provide assistance if needed. Caregivers who accompany patients should remain in the waiting area and will not be allowed in the treatment area.
• Exceptions will be made for special circumstances on a case-by-case basis, which will include patients with disabilities or difficulty communicating as well as pediatric patients.

Visitation for Surgical Services:

• Visitors are not allowed in Same-Day Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Gastrointestinal Surgery Suite, Operating Room or Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) at any time with the exception of a fully vaccinated parent or guardian of a pediatric patient.
• Exceptions will be made for special circumstances on a case-by-case basis, which will include end of life situations, patients with disabilities and difficulty communicating, and pediatric patients.

Visitation for Community Services:

• The Griffin Hospital Cafeteria and Cancer Center Café are closed for dining to visitors from the community with the exception of the TEAM Inc. Senior Dining Program. All members of the Senior Dining Program must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 including a booster vaccine if eligible.

Special Provisions for Persons with Disabilities (applies to all hospital inpatient, Emergency Department, and outpatient services):

• Pursuant to an order issued by the Connecticut Department of Public Health on June 9, 2020, patients with disabilities, including patients who are COVID-19 positive, may have a designated support person to support their disability-related needs during their visit to the hospital.
• All other provisions of Griffin’s visitation policy, including screening for COVID-19, limitations on the number of individuals visiting or with the patient, and the right of the hospital to restrict visitors (or support persons) who have been exposed to COVID-19 or are COVID-19 positive conform with the Connecticut DPH’s order and, as such, support persons:
  • Must be screened for vaccine status or current PCR test status, and for symptoms and exposure risk. If they are symptomatic or have an active COVID-19 status, they will not be permitted to enter.
  • May be denied access where attendant risks of such access cannot be reasonably mitigated. This will include denying access to patients who are on “Airborne Precautions” because they are on a ventilator or receiving high flow oxygen.
  • Shall comply with all reasonable requirements imposed by the hospital to minimize the potential spread of infection, including wearing of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and following directions of staff members regarding isolation and infection control.

*Per the CDC, a person is considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. This definition is subject to change.

We recommend that the following people not visit patients or receive visitors while hospitalized:

• Those who are at increased risk of severe illness, including people over the age of 70, immunocompromised individuals, and individuals who live with or care for such people.
• Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or are waiting for COVID-19 test results.

We will continue to assess these policies to ensure that they reflect the most current knowledge and support our long-standing commitment to person-centered care.