CVMC Updates Visitation Policy
Central Vermont Medical Center has changed its visitation policy, with only vaccinated individuals allowed to visit or accompany patients.
Berlin, Vt. – Central Vermont Medical Center changed its visitation policy today. Now, only vaccinated individuals (two in the hospital and one in practices) may visit or accompany patients.
CVMC staff have greeted patients and visitors since early in the pandemic to screen for Covid-19 symptoms and provide masking guidance. Now, the CVMC team will now also inquire about vaccination status before permitting visitors to enter to a health care facility. Physical proof of vaccination will not be required for entry.
“The vaccines have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing transmission and preventing severe cases of Covid-19,” said Chief Nursing Officer and VP of Patient Care Services Matthew Choate, BSN, RN, MBA. “We recognize the importance of family and friends in the care team. We also have vulnerable patients in the hospital and we want to keep them as safe as possible. This is one way to do so.”
Masking remains required of all visitors, patients and staff whenever inside a CVMC facility in-line with CDC recommendations.
Exceptions to the new vaccination rule include healthy and symptom-free visitors for:
- Infants and minors ineligible for the vaccine.
- End-of-life care.
- Labor and delivery.
- Support for patients with communications needs, cognitive impairment, or other disabilities.
- Support for patients undergoing sedation or general anesthesia.
“Even minor symptoms like a stuffy nose could be Covid,” said Choate. “We need visitors to err on the side of caution when it comes to self-assessing their symptoms before coming to visit.”
Per State of Vermont requirements, Central Vermont Medical Center’s Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing remains open to all healthy and symptom free visitors – regardless of vaccination status.
Those with minor Covid-like symptoms should stay home and arrange for testing with the state prior to contacting their primary care provider or the CVMC Express Care in Berlin.
For a full list of visitation rules, patients and families can visit: www.cvmc.org/visit
More information about COVID-19 is available at:
www.uvmhealth.org/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
www.healthvermont.gov/response/infectious-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.htm
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About Central Vermont Medical Center
Central Vermont Medical Center is the primary health care provider for 66,000 people who live and work in the 26 communities of Central Vermont. We provide 24-hour emergency care, with a full spectrum of inpatient (licensed for 122 beds) and outpatient services along with a 153-bed skilled nursing facility, Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing. Our professional staff includes over 200 physicians and 70 advanced practice providers representing 25 medical specialties.
Central Vermont Medical Center is a member of The University of Vermont Health Network, an integrated system established to deliver high-quality academic medicine to every community we serve.
For more information, visit www.UVMHealth.org/CVMC.