Contact: Caroline Cornish
207-662-5146 / caroline.cornish@mainehealth.org
PORTLAND, Maine – In support of a safe care environment for both patients and care team members during the current COVID-19 surge, Maine Medical Center (MMC) is reducing visitation to all inpatient areas, with targeted exceptions.
Under the new visitor policy, visitation is now limited to:
- Pediatrics: Two parent/guardians at a time allowed in all areas.
- Obstetrics: One spouse/coach allowed in labor and delivery area.
- Critical Care and all other inpatient areas: No visitors except as needed for care plan discussions at the time of admission or as arranged with the care team. Up to four family members may visit patients likely to die within 24 hours with visit times to be managed by the care team. This permission is not to extend beyond one day.
- Outpatient surgery, procedural areas and ambulatory/diagnostic areas: Adult patients should arrange for drop-off and pick-up unless they need special assistance. Visitors are not allowed to wait in these areas. Exceptions can be made in advance for patients who do not live locally. Pediatric patients may be accompanied by two parents/guardians.
- Emergency Department: Visitors are not allowed to wait in the ED. Exceptions will be made for care plan discussions as arranged with the care team or for end of life. Pediatric patients may be accompanied by two parents/guardians.
- COVID-19 patients: No visitors except for end of life.
“This is not a decision that was made lightly,” said MMC President Jeff Sanders. “We understand the importance of visitors to the health and wellbeing of patients and families. These restrictions are necessary to keep our patients, visitors and care team members safe while cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in our communities.”
MMC is continuing to:
- Screen all care team members, patients and visitors for COVID-19
- Require masks in its facilities
- Encourage social distancing and hand hygiene whenever possible
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About Maine Medical Center
Maine Medical Center (MMC), recognized as a Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News and World Report for 2019-2020, is a complete health care resource for the people of Greater Portland and the entire state, as well as northern New England. Incorporated in 1868, MMC is the state’s largest medical center, licensed for 637 beds and employing more than 9,600 people. MMC's unique role as both a community hospital and a referral center requires an unparalleled depth and breadth of services, including an active educational program and a world-class biomedical research center. As a nonprofit institution, Maine Medical Center provides nearly 23 percent of all the charity care delivered in Maine. MMC is part of the MaineHealth system, a growing family of health care services in northern New England. For more information, visit www.mmc.org.