‘COVID SAFETY’ standards enable visitor policy changes during pandemic precautions

Hardeeville and Hilton Head Island, SC - May 29, 2020 – Hilton Head Regional Healthcare announced today that its visitation policy will be relaxed to allow patients to have one designated visitor, effective immediately. This policy change will allow patients of Coastal Carolina Hospital or Hilton Head Hospital who are admitted to the hospital, being treated in the ED or are having an outpatient elective procedure to have one visitor.  This also applies to Tidewatch Emergency Department.

Visitors will be screened for fever, respiratory symptoms or travel to high risk locations prior to entering the hospital, and required to wear visitor identification, a face mask, and sanitize their hands. Specifically designated waiting areas allow physical distancing for designated visitors and include additional cleaning protocols.

Any visitor not meeting screening criteria will not be permitted to enter the hospital. All staff, physicians, patients and visitors are screened for COVID-19 symptoms daily before entering the hospital.

The Hilton Head Regional Healthcare COVID SAFETY standards will offer peace of mind to patients and their loved ones receiving elective surgery or emergency care.

“Our COVID SAFETY standards were developed with key principles in mind to maximize safety – maintain vigilance of all potential risks, create separate care pathways and take a multi-factor approach to maintaining a safe environment for patients and visitors,” explained Hilton Head Regional Healthcare Market CEO Jeremy Clark.

Hilton Head Regional Healthcare’s COVID SAFETY standards are built upon deep clinical expertise and ongoing management of COVID-19, as well as continuous incorporation of CDC, CMS and state recommendations. They are a rigorous combination of infection prevention processes, training, testing, personal protective equipment and technology. Standards include the following components:

• Rigorous physician and staff protocols – daily screening, universal masking and access to PPE
• Heightened sanitization – enhanced cleaning of surfaces and plenty of hand sanitization stations
• Access to COVID-19 testing – in-house, rapid testing for patients, physicians and staff who require it
• Precautions for patients and visitors – provision of face masks, hand sanitizer and physical distancing
• Enhanced virtual access – virtual care, remote monitoring as well as connectivity with loved ones

“Our COVID SAFETY standards will help patients confidently seek care at our hospitals and allow our community to be less worried for loved ones. We are providing the reassurance that our patients, staff and their families deserve,” said Clark. “I am proud of the work of our team to quickly implement and optimize these standards to provide care for patients in the safest environment possible.”