LVMC Covid-19 Revised Patient Visitation Guidance

Lompoc Valley Medical Center recognizes the important role of visitors in the mental health and well being of hospitalized patients. LVMC visitor guidelines have been revised to ensure patient support during hospitalization, with a focus on minimizing the spread of COVID-19 exposure to protect patients and staff. The following guidelines are based on current guidance from California Department of Public Health and in effect.

General guidance: Prior to entering the facility, all permitted visitors are required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated, including a booster OR: unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated visitors must provide documentation of a current negative COVID-19 test performed at a qualified facility or testing site. Home tests are not accepted. LVMC is unable to provide COVID testing for visitors due to limited resources.

• If a rapid antigen test was used, test result date must be within 1 day prior to the visit.
• If a PCR test was done, test result date must be within 2 days prior to the visit.
• Regardless of vaccination status, every visitor is subject to screening upon entry for fever, COVID-19 symptoms
• All visitors must sign in and out of the facility.
• Visitors shall clean hands using hand gel upon entry, during the visit and when exiting the facility.
• Visitors must wear a mask provided by LVMC at all times within the facility. The mask shall cover the nose and mouth. Wearing of other personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate while in the patient’s room may be required.
• Masks with vents or valves are not permitted in the facility.
• Hospital lobby areas for inpatients and outpatients are closed to the public.
• The café is closed to the public.

The following guidelines for visitation apply: Visitation is temporarily not permitted except as noted below.

• A visitor who is visiting a patient in critical condition.
• At the discretion of Emergency Department staff, one visitor may be permitted
• One parent or guardian visitor of a pediatric patient
• One support person for a labor and delivery patient and a doula,
• One support person for a patient with physical, intellectual, developmental disability, or cognitive impairment.
• One support person for adult patients at time of discharge for discharge and follow up instruction.
• Additional exceptions may be made on a case by case basis with Unit Director or House Supervisor approval.
• A support person who is needed by patients due to physical or cognitive limitation, here for outpatient diagnostic testing, i.e. lab, radiology etc.

LVMC encourages visitors to consider Options for Alternative Visiting / Virtual Visitation

• Alternate visiting is encouraged through virtual means, for example using FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Zoom, WebEx or other web-based video chat Phone, texting and/or email correspondence