Visitation and Mask Policies as of Jan. 10, 2025

Starting Friday, Jan. 10, Cape Fear Valley Health is updating visitation and mask policies due to rising cases of respiratory illnesses, including flu and pneumonia.

            Key Changes to Visitation Policy

Minimum Age Requirement:

  • Visitors must now be 12 years or older in most areas.
  • All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Visitation Hours:

  • Remain 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Overnight visitors are permitted if space allows but must arrive before visiting hours end.

Symptom Restrictions:

  • Visitors with fever, cough, or respiratory symptoms should stay home.

Emergency Department Restrictions:

  • Visitors allowed only once patients are assigned a room.
    • Exceptions for:
      • Patients 65 years or older.
      • Cognitively impaired patients.
      • Pediatric patients (one parent/guardian allowed in waiting areas).

 

Exceptions to Visitation Policy

Labor & Delivery:

  • Up to three designated support persons, aged 16+.
  • Support persons can come and go but cannot switch with others during labor and delivery.

Family Centered Care Unit:

  • Maximum of two visitors at a time.

Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU):

  • Parents/legal guardians may visit at any time.
  • Visitors aged 12 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Maximum of two visitors at a time.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU):

  • Two banded visitors and four other designated visitors allowed.
  • Visitors can come and go except during physician rounds:
    • 6:30–9:30 a.m. and 6:30–7:30 p.m.
  • Siblings aged 12 and older may visit on weekends (1:30–5:30 p.m.) if symptom-free.

End of Life Patients:

  • Up to four visitors at a time at the bedside.
  • Visitors may rotate during the visit.
  • Compassionate exceptions may be granted by the nursing supervisor.

Patients Needing Assistance:

  • Patients requiring a healthcare decision maker or communication aid may have one Care Companion with them at all times (can be changed during visiting hours).

Updated Mask Policy

  • Staff: Masks required in the following areas:
    • Emergency Departments, Intensive Care Units, Step-Down Units, ExpressCare, Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC), and any area treating respiratory illness patients.
    • All frontline staff in clinics and all direct patient care staff when caring for patients with respiratory symptoms.
    • Strongly recommended for all other patient encounters.
  • Visitors: Masks are strongly recommended for visitors but not mandatory (except in Emergency Departments for symptomatic patients). People experiencing respiratory symptoms should not enter facilities as a visitor.