Maine Medical Center, (MMC) is limiting visitors to pediatric patients and patients with other special circumstances beginning tomorrow, Saturday, March 21st according to a press release issued this morning.
Under the new policy, no visitors are permitted at MMC or MMP except in the following circumstances:
Pediatrics (one parent/guardian at a time allowed in all areas),
Obstetrics (one spouse/birth partner allowed in labor and delivery area),
Day Surgery, often called outpatient or ambulatory surgery (one person involved in care),
End of Life care, (one visitor st a time for patients within 24 hours),
Extraordinary circumstances,(one person at a time) if presence is necessary for communication with care team or patient support (e.g. patient with disabilities,
One person allowed for the purpose of picking up a patient for discharge,
One person allowed as an escort to emergency department, outpatient and ambulatory areas in some circumstances.
“We recognize that family support is important to our patients, particulary the very young and those facing end-of-life decision,” said Jeff Sanders, President of MMC. “While this was a difficult decision, we feel it is the best way to protect the health of our patients and of our care team members.”