03/15/2021
Latest Information on Nursing Home and Hospital Visits and COVID-19 Vaccines
(Baxley, Ga.) Effective Monday, March 15, 2021, Appling Healthcare will begin scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments at (912)705-7468 for the following individuals based on the current Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) COVID-19 Vaccine Expansion:
- Adults aged 55 and over
- Individuals with disabilities caused by an injury (e.g., traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury)
- Individuals with disabilities due to a longstanding condition that could cause vision loss, nerve damage or loss of limb, or disability due to illness such as ALS or multiple sclerosis
- Individuals 16 years of age and older with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of severe illness from COVID-19. (Pfizer is the only COVID vaccine currently approved for children aged 16 and older.) These conditions include:
Asthma Heart Conditions
Cancer Immunocompromised State
Cerebrovascular Disease Liver Disease
COPD Neurologic Conditions
Cystic Fibrosis Overweight and Obesity
Diabetes Pulmonary Fibrosis
Hypertension Sickle Cell Disease
Thalassemia
Appling Healthcare will adhere to and comply with the Georgia Department of Public Health’s vaccine plan. All decisions about testing and vaccination for COVID-19 are made in consultation with DPH.
COVID-19 vaccine appointments must be scheduled by calling (912)705-7468(SHOT). Appling Healthcare COVID-19 vaccine scheduling hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Effective immediately, Appling Healthcare announces new nursing home visiting guidelines at Appling Nursing and Rehabilitation Pavilion:
- All visitors are to check in at the reception desk in the Pavilion lobby to be screened, if no one is available for screening call the hall your loved one resides on by dialing the main number (912)367-9841 plus the designated hall extension; A Hall: ext. 2100, B Hall: ext. 2200, C Hall: ext. 2300.
- All visitors who enter the facility will be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 including temperature checks, questions about and observations of signs or symptoms.
- Anyone presenting with signs or symptoms or who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection in the previous 14 days will be prohibited from entry.
- Hand hygiene is required before and after the visit. Alcohol-based hand rub is preferred.
- All visitors must wear a face covering or mask at all times (covering the nose and mouth), including children.
- Social distancing of at least 6 feet between persons is required.
- All visitors must enter and exit through the main entrance of the facility.
- All visitors must go directly to the resident’s room or designated visiting area.
- No visitors are allowed to linger in hallways or visit with staff and other residents.
- No more than 2 visitors per resident at a time if visiting in the resident’s room to maintain adequate 6-foot social distancing per Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) social distancing guidelines.
- If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact (including touching) with a visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing hand hygiene before and after. As a reminder, visitors must physically distance from other residents and staff in the facility.
- Unvaccinated residents may participate in scheduled, limited indoor visits with staff supervision.
If you have any questions regarding Appling Nursing and Rehabilitation Pavilion, please feel free to message Appling Healthcare on Facebook, email at covid19@appling-hospital.org, or call (912)367-9841.
If your loved one is not vaccinated, but you would like for them to receive the vaccine, please call Jordan Tomberlin (912)367-9841 ext. 2401.
In addition, Appling Healthcare hospital visitor guidelines have been updated to the following measures:
Please be advised that COVID-19-infected or COVID-19-suspected patients will NOT be allowed any visitors except under exceptional circumstances and under the direction/order of the primary care physician.
All visitors are required to check in at the hospital front desk and follow these safety measures:
- Masks MUST be worn at all times within the building. Masks must fit appropriately and cover your nose and mouth.
- Visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms at designated entrances; if visitors exhibit symptoms, they will be denied entry.
- Visitors are not permitted to congregate in public areas, such as lobbies, waiting areas, nurse stations, or visit other patients or staff.
- Visitors must remain in the room of the patient while they are visiting until visiting hours are over or when the visitor(s) are ready to leave the facility.
ADULT INPATIENT UNIT VISITS:
- TWO (2) healthy adult visitors (age 18+) will be permitted to visit.
- Visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
- Visits may be limited due to the patient’s condition and at the discretion of the charge nurse or nurse manager.
- Visits to our Senior Care Unit is scheduled through the unit Social Worker.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS:
- One adult visitor may accompany a patient in the Emergency Department. However, NO visitors will be allowed to accompany a COVID-19-suspected or COVID-19 infected patient.
- Visitors will not be allowed to wait in the ED waiting room while the patient is undergoing evaluation. They may wait in their vehicle or outside the building.
- One healthy parent or caregiver with a pediatric patient. (Pediatric is under the age of 18).
- One healthy required medical decision-maker with adult patients.
COMPASSIONATE CARE EXCEPTIONS:
- Some compassionate-care exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, with approval by the Unit Nurse Manager or the Primary Care Physician. Exceptions will be granted for extenuating circumstances, such as end-of-life care.
OUTPATIENT/CLINIC SURGICAL PROCEDURES:
- Visitors are not allowed in clinics, with exceptions for the following:
- One healthy parent or caregiver with a pediatric patient.
- One healthy required medical decision-maker with adult patients.
- One healthy caregiver for patients who are unable to walk or move about without assistance.
ICU VISITS:
Visiting in the ICU is restricted, except for exceptional circumstances or under the direction of the nurse or physician.
Nursing home residents will no longer be tested on a weekly basis; they will only be tested if they are symptomatic or an outbreak occurs. Nursing home employees will be routinely tested, once a week. As previously stated, decisions about testing for COVID-19 in outbreak settings are made in consultation with the Georgia Department of Public Health. Appling Healthcare is continuing to closely monitor COVID-19 in partnership with local and state health agencies and the Centers for Disease Control.
All employees at the nursing home and hospital continue to be screened for respiratory illnesses and temperatures daily. Residents are screened three times a day. Environmental Services is cleaning all high-touch surfaces three times a day.
For the latest information regarding COVID-19 vaccines, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine.
For more information regarding nursing home guidance with revised visitation recommendations, visit https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cms-updates-nursing-home-guidance-revised-visitation-recommendations.
For the latest information regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) including tips on protecting yourself and others, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/need-to-know.html
