As of Tuesday morning, March 24, no visitors will be permitted at Memorial Hospital, North Conway, N.H. The change is to help protect patients and staff from the COVID-19 (coronavirus).
Some exceptions will be made for pediatrics, obstetrics, chemotherapy, and compassionate care and hospice care and other extraordinary circumstances.
“We recognize that family support is important to our patients, particularity the very young and those facing end-of-life decisions,” said hospital president Art Mathisen. “This was a difficult decision to come to but we believe this temporary restriction is the best way to protect the health of our patients and care team members.”
Emergency Department patients will be allowed an escort if the patient requires help with their mobility.
Mathisen emphasized that for all exceptions, only one person over the age of 18 is permitted, and that person will be screened. Visitors or patient escorts with respiratory symptoms will not be allowed into the hospital. All visitors must wash their hands before entering and when leaving the patient’s care area and, as much as possible, remain at least six feet from the patient at all times.
“These restrictions are for the protection of patients, employees, visitors, and the public, and consistent with guidance from governmental authorities,” Mathisen said, “and are adopted for the purpose of reducing the potential for propagation of the COVID-19 virus.”