COVID-19 Information

You won’t be near anyone with COVID-19.
The fear of contracting COVID-19 shouldn’t cross your mind when you need emergency care. That’s why we’ve created safe zones in our ER - keeping you separate from anyone we’re treating for COVID-19.

We’re suiting up and scrubbing down even more.
We’ve upped our cleaning and disinfecting protocols - especially for high-touch areas. We also make sure we’re adequately stocked with masks, shields, gloves and gowns to help keep you and our staff healthy.

Checking, then double-checking.
For an added layer of protection, we have hospital personnel screening patients for COVID-19 exposure and symptoms before they enter our facility.

Visitor Guidelines
Your health and safety are our top priority.

Rockledge Regional Medical Center Visitor Guidelines as of February 4, 2022.
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:

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.

1.  All Potential Visitors Must:

• Enter through designated areas of hospital or outpatient facility.
• Greeter will ask visitor to self-screen for COVID symptoms or new risk factors by reviewing information poster displayed at entrance. Greeter will ask visitor if he/she has any questions or if visitor meets any of the exclusion criteria.
• Visitors screening positive will be asked to refrain from entering hospital or outpatient facility.
• All visitors over the age of 2 must wear a face mask while in hospital.
• Hand sanitize upon entering and leaving the facility and any patient room.
• Maintain social distancing while in the facility including during visitation in patient rooms.
• Remain in the patient’s room or other designated waiting area during the visit.
• Patients undergoing outpatient procedures and/or testing are permitted one adult escort/visitor. Visitor must remain in designated waiting areas while patient is undergoing treatment.
• Examples of designated waiting areas are hospital cafeteria, surgery and cardiology waiting rooms on second floor, hospital main entrance lobby etc.
• Visiting Hours are from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm with no restriction on duration of visitation between these hours.
• Behavioral Health visitors must contact the unit prior to visitation.

2.  End-of-Life patients:
In compassionate care situations, including but not limited to end of life situations, decisions about visitation should be made collaboratively with the patient and loved ones, as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis.

3.  Visitation for COVID confirmed or PUI patients will be limited to one visitor a day for a maximum of 2 hours.

• Visitor must be 18 or older.
• Visitor must wear hospital provided PPE including isolation gown, appropriate mask, and eye protection.
• Visitors will not be allowed to patients undergoing aerosolizing treatments.
• Exceptions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by Unit Director with patient and loved ones as appropriate.

4.  Support Persons:

• Patients with physical or intellectual disabilities will be allowed a support person regardless of the patients COVID status.
• Laboring patients are allowed a doula.
• There are no restrictions on visiting hours and support persons are not considered visitors.
• Support Persons Must:

1. Meet clinical criteria used for general visitation, i.e. pass COVID screening as indicated on information poster at point of entry.
2. Use appropriate PPE for the patient they are supporting. In the event the patient is COVID positive or suspect positive, the support person must use hospital-provided PPE.

*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.

COVID Vaccinations

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: https://brevardfl.gov/EmergencyEvent/COVID19/COVID19VaccineInformation
• 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

What to do if you're sick

Stay home except to get medical care

• Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Do not leave, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
• Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you feel worse or you think it is an emergency.
• Avoid public transportation: Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

Social Distancing

• As much as possible, you should stay in a specific “sick room” and away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom, if available.
• Limit contact with pets & animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals, just like you would around other people.
• Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people with the virus limit contact with animals until more information is known.

Call Ahead before visiting your doctor

Call ahead: If you have a medical appointment, call your doctor’s office and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients.

Monitor your symptoms

• Seek medical attention, but call first: Seek medical care right away if your illness is worsening (for example, if you have difficulty breathing).
• Call your doctor before going in: Before going to the doctor’s office, call ahead and tell them your symptoms. They will tell you what to do.