Oneida Health activates visitor response plan

ONEIDA, N.Y. » All visitation has been suspended at Oneida Health Hospital and the Oneida Health Rehabilitation and Extended Care facility due to the continued spread of COVID-19.

In addition, Oneida Health is also restricting the number of individuals who can accompany patients during outpatient visits throughout their network of services.

“After careful evaluation and continuous communications with the Department of Health, we have designed a visitor response plan as a precautionary measure to prevent the unnecessary exposure to upper respiratory illness, including COVID-19, to our patients, residents, and staff,” President and CEO Gene Morreale said in a news release. “The safety of our patients, residents, and staff remains our top priority. These measures will provide a positive impact on our ability to offer the highest level of care to those who need it.”

Oneida Health’s COVID-19 Visitor Response Plan, which can be found online, either restricts visitation completely or in unique cases related to

the critically ill, an emergency, a pediatric patient, or birth, to only one visitor at a time.

“We understand that for many, these new restrictions will be difficult,” Morreale said. “We are asking for everyone’s cooperation and understanding during this time as we continue

to learn more about COVID-19 by refraining to enter the health system unless it’s related to a critically ill patient or to receive care.”

Anyone entering the hospital facility will be asked to answer a series of questions as part of a precautionary screening effort.

“Our team has developed a screening tool based on Department of Health guidelines to help identify patients who may be at high risk for COVID-19,” Morreale said. “In identifying those who may be at high risk, we will be able to proactively provide the recommended isolation

and social distancing to help keep staff and patients receiving care for other health-related conditions from being exposed.”

Oneida Health currently has a resource page on their website which provides education and resources related to COVID-19, including the phone number of

the Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline: 1-888364-3065. They encourage those who use their health system to check their website prior to a patient visit as it will be updated daily as more is learned about COVID-19. Oneida Health’s website is oneidahealth. org.