As the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases decline in Georgia, and following careful review of its policies and local novel coronavirus (COVID-19) data, Navicent Health has chosen to modify certain portions of its essential visitation policy. The essential visitation policy was put into place on March 12, 2020 to protect patients, visitors and caregivers from the threat of COVID-19. The changes are effective Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

What Has Changed

• Essential visitation is limited to those who are visiting or accompanying the following patients:

• Minor patients under the age of 18 and patients in hospice or palliative care may have two essential visitors, one at a time at the bedside.

• Patients at end of life may have essential visitors. The number of essential visitors is at the discretion of the treating physician.

• Patients in labor and delivery and/or family birth centers may have two essential visitors, including a partner and birth coach.

• All other bedded patients, including those in critical care units, may have one essential visitor per day. A new essential visitor may be designated each day.

o   Adult patients coming for emergency care may have one essential visitor. Minor patients may have two parents or guardians accompany them.

What Remains the Same 

o   Essential visitation hours will be held 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. daily.

• Minor patients under the age of 18 may have one parent or guardian stay overnight. 

• Patients in labor and delivery and/or family birth centers may have one essential visitor stay overnight.

o   Adult patients coming for outpatient services including surgical procedures, diagnostics or imaging services may have one essential visitor. Pediatric patients may have two parents or guardians accompany them on the day of their procedure.

o   Patients at Rehabilitation Hospital, Navicent Health (RHNH) may designate one essential visitor for the duration of their stay. Visiting hours at RHNH are 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. daily.

o   Navicent Health’s youth visitation policy – instituted annually as a precaution during flu season – remains in effect as a safeguard against COVID-19. Children must be age 12 or older in order to visit The Medical Center (Macon), Medical Center of Peach County (Byron), Navicent Health Baldwin (Milledgeville), Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital (Macon), and Rehabilitation Hospital (Macon).

o   All visitors will be screened at for signs of illness upon arrival, as part of Navicent Health’s COVID Safe initiative.

o   Individuals with cough, fever, shortness of breath or other flu-like symptoms are asked to reschedule their visit.

o   To prevent the spread of COVID-19, visitors will be required to wear a mask at all times, in accordance with Navicent Health’s universal masking policy.

• Navicent Health asks that visitors arrive wearing a mask. Visitors will be provided a medical mask upon arrival, and will be asked to wear this mask at all times while on the Navicent Health campus.

Patient Access to Our Facilities

This policy is applicable to the following healthcare facilities:

• Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health

• The Medical Center, Navicent Health

• Medical Center of Peach County, Navicent Health

• Navicent Health Baldwin

• Rehabilitation Hospital, Navicent Health

• Monroe County hospital, Navicent Health Partner

• Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner

To enter one of these facilities:

o   The Medical Center, Navicent Health may be accessed at the following locations. All other entrances will be closed.

• 777 Hemlock Street (main lobby)

• 720 Pine Street (Luce Heart Institute, enter through Orange Parking Deck entrance)

• 777 Pine Street (Emergency Center)

• 840 Pine Street (Surgery Center)

• Entrances at the Peyton Anderson Health Education Center (877 Hemlock Street) and the pedestrian bridges at the Green and Red Parking Decks will be closed.

• Any essential visitors arriving separate from a patient should enter at 777 Hemlock Street (main lobby).

o   All other Navicent Health facilities may be accessed through their main lobbies and/or emergency centers as usual. 

Greeters at public entrances will screen each individual entering the facility, guiding those seeking treatment to the appropriate location while assisting visitors as needed. Valet parking service remains suspended at this time. Valet staff will continue to assist with screenings and guide visitors as they arrive at our facilities.

The health of our patients and the community is the highest concern at Navicent Health. Our policies and actions are designed to safeguard our community. We appreciate the community’s cooperation and understanding with our efforts to mitigate the threat of COVID-19. For up-to-date information on Navicent Health’s COVID-19 response, please visit www.navicenthealth.org. Navicent Health reserves the right to update the visitation policy at any time, based on current COVID-19 conditions