Beebe facilities update visitor policies, restrictions

Beebe Healthcare has updated its visitor restrictions as of Jan. 1, to allow inpatients to have one well visitor per day from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus. This visitor may not rotate throughout the day.

All visitors will be required to wear a surgical mask. Visitors who do not have one upon check-in will have one provided to them. This includes the Lewes Campus, the South Coastal Campus and Tunnell Cancer Center.

Patients being discharged from the hospital are allowed one well visitor 30 minutes prior to discharge to help with care instructions.

As a continuation of Beebe’s existing policy, visitors are not permitted for COVID-19 patients and patients under suspicion for COVID-19 except for special circumstances.

Additional considerations are made for labor and delivery, surgery patients, and end-of-life patients. Pediatric patients may have visits by two well parents or caregivers.

“Beebe Healthcare reviews our county and health system’s status several times daily. With an increase in hospitalizations at Beebe and across the state, we have once again decided to limit the hours for visitation,” said David A. Tam, Beebe Healthcare president and CEO. “Due to the rapidly increasing spread of the Omicron variant, we have also decided to standardize our mask requirements. Visitors are to wear surgical masks for their safety as well as the safety of our patients and team members. As always, Beebe requests the community’s help and support by getting vaccinated and remaining vigilant about staying healthy."

Visitors are asked to remain with the patient to limit movement throughout the hospital. Visitors may also be asked to leave if the care team deems it necessary for any clinical reasons. Clergy and pastoral visitors do not count toward the patient’s visitor quota.