Effective today, March 27, Nebraska Medicine has announced that visitors are no longer allowed in any hospital or clinic setting. Signs will be placed at each location to communicate this policy.
The new policy is in place in order to continue to protect patients and colleagues.
The updated policy does allow for exceptions for pediatric and labor and delivery patients, as well as other extenuating circumstances.
It does appear possible for people to be contagious without exhibiting symptoms, so limiting the number of people who come into the hospitals and health centers will lessen the likelihood that the illness will spread.
Patients arriving for clinic appointments will continue to be screened. Staff will be on hand to escort patients who arrive for clinic appointments and need assistance. If a patient arrives with a guest, the guest will be asked to return to their car.
Outpatient pharmacies at Lauritzen Outpatient Center, Bellevue Medical Center, and Durham Outpatient Center are offering curbside prescription delivery.
A process is in place to allow vendors who are critical to surgical operations into the facilities. Colleagues expecting deliveries will be asked to meet the courier at one of the entrances.
“This was not an easy decision to make,” said Sue Nuss, Ph.D., chief nursing officer, Nebraska Medicine and vice president of Operations, Bellevue Medical Center. “We know this isn’t simple to enforce and will cause some difficulty with families desiring to visit loved ones. But we must do this for everyone’s safety.”
So when wi ll you be opening to allow visitors at your Village Pointe location as Bryan and CHI in Lincoln have already done so? It seems that it is not fair that spouses can not go in with their wife or husband as a cancer patient. My husband is my care taker for 44 years and will not be seeking any more treatment until this fear is gone and common sense returns.