News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
CRMC has updated its COVID guidelines effective Monday, August 9th.
Updated guidelines include restrictions on visitors and overnight stays.
Pediatric patients, birthing center patients, and patients with special needs will be allowed one overnight support person in some cases. Other patients will be allowed one visitor from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The guidelines state that visitors are not permitted to swap out during visitation hours.
One visitor is allowed for patients in the emergency department, Cancer Center, in-patient rehab center, and outpatient testing or appointments at the Outpatient Imaging Center. No visitors under 16, or for COVID positive or suspects cases will be permitted.
Such situations will only permit visitors for end-of-life cases approved by the attending physician. For end-of-life cases, the attending physician will determine the number of visitors or the status of overnight visitors. For such cases, visitors are not to exceed four family members at a time.
In regards to surgery and procedures, once the ICU volume of COVID patients reaches 15 and the other units are at or near capacity, senior management will discuss the possibility of limiting inpatient surgeries. CEO Paul Korth would make the decision should the need arise. The limit would only allow urgent or emergency procedures.
Such limits would continue until numbers fall below the hospital’s threshold or COVID data shows at least one week of a downward trend.
CRMC’s new guidelines state that should staffing becomes critical, the hospital may also limit or stop elective inpatient and outpatient treatment.
CRMC provided general information stating that vaccination is highly effective against known variants and preventing severe illness and hospitalization. They said that since March 10th, 97 percent of new positive admissions to the hospital have not been vaccinated.
For those interested, free vaccines are available for employees and family members 12 years and older every Thursday from Noon-4 pm in the North Patient Tower Lobby, no appointment needed.
