HRMC Further Restricts Visitation; Encourages Vaccination

With the recent rise in cases in our community, as well as patients in the ER and the hospital, Haywood Regional Medical Center has further restricted visitation at this time. The new guidelines are shown below. We will continue to update as our local COVID-19 cases evolve. Please continue to visit MyHaywoodRegional.com/COVID19 for the latest information on visitation.

Updated visitor guidelines as of August 5, 2021:

• No visitation is allowed for the following areas. Special circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Behavioral Health Unit
• Emergency Room
• Intensive Care Unit
• Progressive Care Unit

• Regardless of area, visitors are not allowed for patients in isolation, including those COVID-19 positive or suspected COVID-19 positive.

• One visitor per patient (18 or older) may visit or accompany patients in the following areas:
• Labor and delivery (one support person allowed per laboring patient)
• Outpatient surgery
• Diagnostic testing
• Rehabilitation and/or other therapy
• All visitors must continue to wear masks at all times while inside the facility.
• Visitors must remain in patient’s room during visit.
• Visitors will have temperature automatically taken upon entering the main lobby, and each should read the attestation to confirm lack of COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival. If temperature is high and/or a visitor has symptoms, we ask that they do not visit the hospital at that time.
• Additional temperature checks may take place at other locations in the hospital.
• Visitation hours remain 10:00 am – 6:30 pm.

Greg Caples, HRMC CEO also shared, “At this time, we are strongly encouraging and supporting all members of our community to become fully vaccinated. We know there is significant evidence that grows daily further indicating that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and we are very encouraged by this.” At the time of this release, Haywood estimates that 79% of its staff has received their COVID-19 vaccination.

Mark Kinter, MD, and HRMC Chief of Staff, shared, “Thank you to everyone who has already chosen to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. I am troubled by the low vaccination rates in our county, as it is truly our best defense against this pandemic. Most COVID-19 patients we’re seeing that require hospitalization are unvaccinated. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, please know it’s not too late – particularly with the Delta variant surging across the country. And now is also the time to continue other personal safety procedures, including washing hands frequently and wearing masks to protect yourself and others.”

For those who wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, some resources are listed below. Multiple sites within Haywood County are offering the vaccine, many with a choice as to which type a patient might prefer.

• Visit Vaccines.gov – This site, powered by Vaccine Finder is searchable by Zip Code and an adjustable search radius. You may also search by desired product (Pfizer, Moderna, and/or J&J).
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services provides a similar service on their website: YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov

Again, for the latest information about visitation, please visit MyHaywoodRegional.com/COVID19.