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.

A: Each individual case is unique. Length of stay will be determined based on the patient’s condition and admitting diagnosis.

A: Routine visitation has been stopped. 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 surgical, emergency, and maternity patients. Other exceptions will be made for family to visit critically ill patients upon completing the screening.

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 three 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)
• Main Entrance, James Street (7a.m. to 8pm Monday through Friday; closed on weekends)
• Bartlett Entrance, Oak Street (7a.m. to 5:30pm Monday through Friday; closed on weekends)

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.