HMH suspends visitation at hospital, medical offices to safeguard patients, staff
HMH to suspend visitation at the hospital and allow only essential caregivers to accompany patients for medical appointments or tests
Elizabethtown, Ky. (March 24, 2020) – Effective Wednesday, March 25 at 6 a.m., Hardin Memorial Health (HMH) will suspend visitation at the hospital and allow only essential caregivers to accompany patients for medical appointments or tests. There will be limited exceptions.
For the past two weeks, HMH has been progressively restricting access to the hospital and HMH Medical Group offices to protect patients from the COVID-19 virus.
“This is a difficult but necessary step to help deal with this ever-changing situation,” said HMH President and CEO Dennis Johnson. “We apologize for the inconvenience to our patients and their loved ones, but we must keep patient and staff safety our top priority. With HMH’s long- standing reputation of providing ‘treat-you-like-family’ care, you know your family members and friends are in good hands.”
At the hospital, there will be limited exceptions, allowing one healthy visitor (screened prior to visitation) for:
- Patients under age 18 (must be a parent or guardian)
- Women in labor (birthing partner; one per hospitalization)
- End-of-life patients (clergy)
- Hospice or end-of-life patients (visitor)
- Dependent patients who require assistance (caregiver or guardian)
- Outpatient surgery and cath lab patients
Everyone should enter at the Main Registration/Patient Pick-Up Entrance located at the front of the building (off Dixie Avenue).
“We encourage everyone to use their personal electronic devices to use virtual means such as FaceTime or Skype to communicate with their loved ones in the hospital,” said Johnson.
For HMH Medical Group offices and outpatient facilities, a single essential caregiver will be allowed for:
- Child under age 18 (parent or guardian)
- Dependent adult who requires assistance (caregiver)
- End-of-life patient (determined on case-by-case basis)
Those accompanying patients to HMH Medical Group offices and outpatient facilities should stay in their cars to comply with social distancing.
Other recent measures taken by HMH include postponement of elective surgeries and of certain diagnostic screening tests.
For the latest information on HMH policies and response to COVID-19, visit HMH.net or follow Hardin Memorial Health on social media. To donate and help HMH caregivers, visit ourhmh.org.
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, please seek reliable, up-to-date, information.
Recommended sources are:
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
- Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services – kycovid19.ky.gov or Public Hotline: 1- 800-722-5725
- Lincoln Trail District Health Department – ltdhd.org
- Hardin Memorial Health – hmh.net or Patient Symptom Hotline: (270) 979-7777
About HMH
HMH is an integrated system of providers and facilities serving approximately 400,000 residents in 10 Central Kentucky counties (Hardin, LaRue, Meade, Breckinridge, Grayson, Nelson, Hart, Bullitt, Green and Taylor). The 300-bed hospital in Elizabethtown, Kentucky includes 270 acute care, 15 psychiatric and 15 skilled nursing beds. Additionally, HMH includes 50+ outpatient facilities across the service area including a Cancer Care Center and Outpatient Surgical Center. There are over 445 physicians and advanced practice clinicians in over 40 specialties and primary care including Hospitalists available 24/7, Emergency and Urgent Care; Cancer, Cardiac, Rehab and Therapy Services; Medical and Surgical Services; Pulmonary Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Ear, Nose and Throat, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Obstetrics including a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatrics. With 2,700 employees and an active volunteer corps of 140, Hardin Memorial Hospital is the third largest employer in Hardin County.
Media Contact
Megan Blaney, Heartland Communication Consultants (631) 431-3011 megan@heartlandcommunicate.com