Updated LVMC Visitation Rules during COVID-19

Lompoc Valley Medical Center is following the guidelines put forth by the California Department of Public Health and the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department regarding restrictions on visitors to the hospital. The restrictions are in place and updated as needed, to slow the spread of community transmission of COVID-19.

In accordance with the Public Health Officer Order of Sept. 30, LVMC has set visitation hours from 10 am to 8 pm.

No visitors younger than the age of 13 will be allowed at LVMC.

Each LVMC inpatient and Emergency Department patient may have two (2) Unique Designated Visitors (UDV) per day. The visitors must follow all federal, state, and county COVID-19 guidance during visits.

Visitors must maintain a physical distance of 6 feet between themselves and the patient.

No more than two UDV’s total may be in any adult patient room at one time, whether there are one or two patients in the room.

• UDVs must be screened for temperature and symptoms before entering the hospital.
• The UDV may not be a COVID positive case or a confirmed contact of a COVID positive case.
• UDVs may not visit COVID positive or patients suspected of having COVID
• The UDV is restricted from visiting any public areas at the hospital
• The UDV must wear a procedural face mask at all times while inside the hospital.
• If sufficient procedural facemasks are not available, the UDV may wear a clean face covering at all times while inside the hospital. Clean face cloth coverings are available from Infection Control if needed.
• The UDV should perform hand hygiene when entering the hospital, and when entering and exiting a patient room.

Exceptions to hospital visitation restrictions may be made on a case-by-case basis. All Federal, state, and county guidelines with respect to COVID -19 and the hospital Infection Control Program must be maintained. Approval by an authorized individual is required. Requests should be made to Nursing Administration or House Supervisors.

Pediatric and Obstetric Patients are able to have two visitors per day, for the length of the patient stay. For pediatric or obstetric patients:

• One or both UDVs may be present during each day.
• All UDVs must be screened for temperature and symptoms before entering the hospital.
• The UDV may not be a COVID-positive case or a confirmed contact of a COVID positive case.
• UDVs may visit COVID-positive patients only in specific exceptions made by hospital administration.
• The UDV must wear a procedural face mask at all times while inside the hospital.
• The UDV is restricted from all public areas.
• The UDV must stay in the room at all times, except upon entering and leaving the hospital.
• The UDV’s may bring food and beverages from home for their own consumption.
• The UDV may be allowed to stay overnight for pediatric and obstetrics patients.

Regulations for visitors for patients near the end of life:

The LVMC Administration may make the determination for the number of visitors, based on the needs and context of a particular request and guided by the infection prevention and control program. An on-site Supervisor or Director of the unit where the patient is located must be notified.

The determination for visitation of patients near the end of life is made on a case-by-base in consultation with the unit’s charge nurse, and/or the house supervisor and/or Department Director. The clinical situation, patient care needs, and any infection control precautions in place may be used to determine the number of visitors allowed at any one time.

The entire Health Officer Order is available at:

https://countyofsb.org/uploadedFiles/phd/PROGRAMS/Disease_Control/Corona/2020%2011-4.pdf

The recovery of our patients and the protection of our healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic is our highest priority. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.