Q: How is the hospital protecting staff and other
patients from contracting COVID-19 or other hospital acquired infections?
A: Rome Memorial Hospital is an
industry leader in infection prevention. Working closely with our local health
department, Rome Memorial Hospital is monitoring the evolving guidance of the
New York State Health Department and following the published guidance of the
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to protect our community from the
COVID-19 virus.
Q: How long will my loved one be in the hospital for?
A: Each individual case is unique. Length of stay will be determined based on the patient’s condition and admitting diagnosis.
Q: Can I come visit my loved one?
A: Routine visitation has been
suspended. There are very limited visitation exceptions at this time. One
medically necessary support individual will be allowed to accompany a patient
to a clinical area, upon passing a health screening. These include any patient
with confusion, altered mental status, developmental delays or agitation or
mobility issues and patients under the age of 18. In addition, one support
person is permitted to accompany maternity patients.
Other exceptions will be made for family to visit critically ill patients upon
completing the screening.
Q: Why is the hospital enacting visitation restrictions?
A: To protect our patients,
residents, caregivers and the community, Rome Memorial Hospital is suspending
all routine visitations. In addition, the hospital will be reducing the number
of entry points on its campus to two locations during the week and one access
point on the weekend. The following entrances will be open for patients to
access the hospital:
- Emergency Department
(24 hours a day; every day)
- Bartlett Entrance,
Oak Street (7a.m. to 5:30pm Monday through Friday; closed on weekends)
- Main Entrance, James Street (open only for surgical patients)
Q: I’m having a baby, why am I limited to one visitor? Can my “one visitor” change?
A: Babies’ immune systems are fragile. In order to ensure your baby’s health, as well as the health of yourself and all of the other parents, babies and staff in our maternity department, it is necessary to take these precautions. Your one visitor will be the only person allowed to be with you and your baby during your stay. They cannot be interchanged or swapped.
Q: How can I stay in touch with my loved one if they are
admitted?
A: You can stay in touch with
your loved one via cell phone, or land line via the room phone of the patient.
Q: How long will the no visitation policy be in place
for?
A: The visitation restrictions will
stay in place as long as they are prudent and necessary. Rome Memorial Hospital
is in direct contact with the Oneida County Department of Health and New York
State Department of Health to ensure the safety of our staff and patients.
While we understand the frustration of not being able to visit your loved one
while they are hospitalized, we have to put the health and safety of our
patients, residents and staff first.
Q: When can I expect updates regarding my loved one’s
care?
A: If you are designated as the
primary contact for your loved one, a member of your loved one’s care team will
provide updates on their plan of care daily and sooner as deemed necessary. If
you are the primary contact, please know that you will be responsible for
notifying the rest of your family and friends. If you are unable to do so,
please designate an alternate primary contact. If you are a Health Care Proxy,
you will be contacted for medical issues in the event that the patient is
unable to communicate their wishes.
Q: I’d like to sew masks to for staff. What’s the best
way to sew them? Where can I send completed masks to?
A: We appreciate the community’s
outpouring of support to assist the hospital and its staff. Our team is in the process of researching the
latest guidance to provide to those who may be interested in sewing masks to
supplement the hospital’s existing personal protective equipment (PPE). Different
materials and patterns may provide different levels of protection, so we want
to ensure that we provide the best information available. We will provide a
contact name on our website for additional information when it is available.
Q: How can I contact my loved one who is a resident on the Residential Health Care Facility?
A: We know that the suspension of visitation due to COVID-19 has made communication with your loved one more difficult. In an effort to help you stay connected, we have developed several options for virtual face-to-face communication, using your smartphone or tablet, laptop or desktop, equipped with a web camera, microphone, and speakers. Full details on how to reach to your loved one is available by clicking here.