Patients & Visitors
Is it safe to have surgery at your hospital?
Our hospitals continuously work to be prepared for all types of infectious diseases. In addition to wearing facemasks and other personal protective equipment, and washing hands before and after caring for each patient, we have taken a number of additional steps designed to keep all who enter the facility safe. These include:
- Everyone who enters the hospital is screened, including physicians and staff.
- In order to continue to provide a safe environment, we are asking anyone visiting to bring a face mask. The face mask must be worn the entire time they are in the facility.
- Surgical patients are tested for COVID-19 as part of pre-surgery and are asked to self-quarantine after the test is performed. Upon arrival the day of their procedure, they will receive a screening questionnaire and be asked to wear a mask.
- Cleaning and disinfection has intensified, especially frequently touched surfaces and spaces.
- The number of procedures performed each day is being limited to minimize wait times.
- Your services will be provided in a defined non-COVID-19-care zone where all patients have been screened negative for COVID-19. A dedicated team of providers will care for you who only work in this area.
Where do I go for Pre-Admission Testing?
A phone pre op assessment will be conducted by one of our specialized RN’s within 48-72 hours after your surgery is scheduled. This will review your history, general health, medications, COVID screening questions, pre op testing date and time, confirm your date of surgery and your arrival time. This is also the time to ask any questions you may have.
Where do I go when I come back for my surgery?
As you come to the hospital for your appointment, you will be instructed to enter through the ambulatory surgery entrance and we ask that you bring and wear your own personal mask. Your temperature will be taken and you will be asked a few questions as part of the screening we do for everyone who enters the hospital, including staff. Once inside, a staff member will escort you to our pre-op surgery department.
Do I need a COVID-19 test before my surgery?
A COVID-19 test will be a part of your pre-surgery testing. Your doctor will let you know if this is needed and will arrange for you to complete your pre-surgery testing within 72 hours prior to the date of the procedure to allow time to receive the test results. If you are tested, you will need to self-quarantine after the test is performed.
Why do I need to self-quarantine after my COVID-19 test?
To protect you, our physicians and staff, everyone entering the building must be free from symptoms of the coronavirus infection. Entering self-quarantine after you’ve been tested for COVID-19 limits your exposure to anyone who may be carrying the virus and prevents the spread of disease.
Will I be allowed to have a family member or friend accompany me to surgery?
You should be dropped off and enter through the Ambulatory Surgery Center entrance on the southeast of the building. The person accompanying you will be able to leave a contact number with the staff for a status call. If you are admitted to the hospital, visitors will be allowed to visit once you are in your room during visiting hours.
Current Visitor Guidelines
Having a loved one at the bedside can be helpful during the healing process, so we are happy to welcome our visitors back into our facilities, all while maintaining certain safeguards and measures for the safety of all. Effective Saturday, October 10, we are inviting visitors back into our facilities on a limited basis.
The following visitation guidelines will be in place:
- Visiting hours will be 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days per week.
- All visitors must enter through the main entrance of the hospital to be screened. Visitors will receive a temperature check and be asked to answer a series of questions.
- Anyone visiting is asked to bring a facemask or covering which must be worn the entire time they are in the facility. If the visitor does not have a mask, a mask will be provided.
- ER patients are allowed one visitor in the treatment room; however, visitation may be restricted based on patient condition.
- Patients admitted to the hospital will be allowed one visitor per day.
- Birthing or care partners for obstetric patients are limited to one and must remain the same person the entire stay.
- Visitors must be at least 18 years or older unless they are the parent of a minor child.
Surgical patients will be dropped off and enter through the Ambulatory Surgery Center entrance on the southeast of the building. The person accompanying a surgical patient will be able to leave a contact number with the staff for a status call. For surgical patients admitted to the hospital, visitors will be allowed to visit once the patient is in their room during visiting hours. They must enter through the main entrance of the hospital and be screened as all other visitors. Coaches for patients in the Bone and Joint Center will be allowed to visit once the patient has been transferred to their room.
If anyone has traveled from a high-risk area for COVID-19, had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 without wearing the proper protective equipment, is currently being tested for COVID-19 or is experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms, they will not be allowed to visit unless seeking medical care themselves.
We are committed to providing our community with quality medical services. We continute to strive to maintain a safe environment of care. Our hospital and caregivers practice infection prevention every day, including wearing face masks and other personal protective equipment, washing hands before and after caring for each patient, and through processes designed to keep all who enter the facility safe. Cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and care-giving spaces has been intensified.
We continue to encourage patients to connect with their family using Facetime or another video communication app.
Patient Pass Code
Patients receive a pass code during registration. This code serves as authorization to disclose health information for purposes such as communicating results, findings and care decisions to family members and friends who are in possession of the pass code. It is the patient’s responsibility to provide the pass code only to the people he/she wishes to have that information disclosed to. The family member or friend seeking information will need to provide the pass code to the hospital employee in order to receive any information about the patient other than general condition. Pass codes cannot be used after discharge to obtain test results.
At Bayfront Health Seven Rivers, we understand that coming to the hospital as a patient or as a loved one's support person can be a difficult, often overwhelming experience. Whether you’re preparing for a hospital stay or stopping by to see friends and family, knowing where to go and what to bring will help make your visit less stressful. To make your experience easier, we want to provide you with helpful information you may need to plan your visit, such as what to expect, parking instructions, transportation and more.
Learn more about what to expect during your stay by downloading our patient guide