COVID-19

Rockledge Regional Medical Center Visitor Guidelines – 07.22.2021

Visitor Restrictions will be determined by infection control in conjunction with hospital leadership and will follow state or local guidance if stricter regulations are required.

Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors, and employees.

As we continue to monitor the coronavirus situation, we are revising our visitation policy to protect our community against the spread of respiratory illness, including COVID-19. The following policy is now in place:

All Potential Visitors Must:

• Enter through designated areas of hospital or outpatient facility.
• Screen negative for COVID symptoms or new risk factors by reviewing the screening poster.
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• A CDC recommended mask must be worn while in the building and must cover your nose and mouth. A mask will be provided if you do not have one.
• Hand sanitize upon entering and leaving the facility and any patient room.
• Maintain social distancing while in the facility.
• Remain in the patient’s room during the visit.

For patients without suspected or active COVID-19:

• May have 1 visitor at a time.
• No visitor under the age of 18 years old.
• People waiting to visit a patient should wait outside, rather than in the hospital waiting rooms or lobby, until the time of their visit.
• Main Entrance hours are 7:00am-8:00pm.

Exceptions include:

1. End-of-Life patients:
   • 2 visitors at a time. Other family members must remain outside the facility, and then can rotate in at the discretion of the healthcare team.
2. Family Birthplace:
   • Laboring patients may have one support person.
   • Post-partum patients may have up to 2 visitors at a time.
3. Behavioral Health visitors must first contact the unit.

For patients having outpatient procedures and/or testing who are without suspected or active COVID-19:

• Patients undergoing outpatient procedures and/or testing are permitted one adult escort/visitor. Escort/visitor must remain in designated waiting areas while patient is undergoing treatment.

For patients with suspected or active COVID-19:

• No visitors are allowed.

Exceptions include:

1. Pediatric patients (< 18 years of age) may have 1 designated parent or legal guardian visit per day.
2. Patients with altered mental status who require a family member for support may have one visitor per day.
3. Hospice or end-of-life patients may have visitors at the discretion of the Department Director.

Some units or areas of the facility may either restrict all visitors or limit to only one visitor, depending upon the prevalence of COVID-19, quantities of supplies, and space considerations.

*Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in loss of visitor privileges.

The teams are working to ensure that we are ready to treat patients in our community who may need care.  However, in order to keep our emergency room as free from COVID-19 as possible, we are asking patients to call their primary care provider if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed.  Steward Medical Group continues to offer its patients tele-health virtual visits for patients who may have flu-like symptoms and want to speak with a physician; or they may be for patients experiencing other routine ailments but do not wish to go to the doctor’s office.

We ask our community to continue to follow instructions on social distancing and self-quarantine.  This is the best way we can slow the spread of disease and increase the chances that we will be able to handle the volume of more severe cases that require hospital care.  Additionally, we ask the community to continue to support our front-line providers, including doctors, nurses, other hospital workers, and first responders who are stepping forward in this time of uncertainty.

For more information about COVID-19 visit The Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov, by contacting the Florida Department of Health hotline:  1-866-779-6121 or visiting their website at https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/ or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

This measure has put in place for your protection, as well as the protection of patients and hospital staff. We ask for your understanding and appreciate your cooperation in our commitment to keeping our community safe.

Steward Health Care is committed to the safety, health, and well-being of our patients, staff, and the communities we serve. We will provide additional updates as they become available. 

In the meantime, for more information, please contact your primary care physician. If you do not have a primary care physician, or you are seeking general coronavirus information, please contact the Florida Department of Health Hotline at 1-866-779-6121 or visit floridahealthcovid19.gov or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov. 

Vaccines are now widely available and have been proven to be safe and highly effective. For more information, please visit the CDC website or the Brevard County Department of Health website.

Residents can stay informed on vaccine availability by utilizing any of the below options

• Text BrevardEOC to 888777 to receive text alerts as part of our AlertBrevard program
• COVID vaccine website: http://www.brevardfl.gov/emergency-event/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-information
• Facebook: Brevard Emergency County Emergency Management
• Twitter: @BrevardEOC
• Subscribe to receive Brevard County Press releases at http://www.brevardfl.gov/communications/subscribe
• Contact 2-1-1