ELKINS – Effective immediately, Davis Medical Center is resuming less-restrictive visitor guidelines in hospital units, outpatient clinics, and the emergency department.

As Covid-19 hospitalizations decrease from pandemic levels, DMC’s incident command team revised policies to lessen restrictions.  Full details regarding the visitation policy for DMC can be found on the website https://www.davishealthsystem.org/patients-visitors/visitation-hours.

A summary of changes follows:

• Minimum Age of Visitors – Children under the age of 12 are discouraged from visiting. The minimum age of visitors is determined on an individual basis, considering the diagnosis of the patient as well as the roommate (when applicable).
• All visitors will enter through the main entrance.
• Masks are required during the entire visit

Day Surgery Unit

• Adult patients are permitted one guest in the registration and waiting areas prior to the procedure. Social distancing rules apply in waiting areas.
• Pediatric surgical patients are allowed two support persons. Support persons must be 18 years or older.
• Adult patients for outpatient diagnostic visits are allowed one guest to accompany them.
• Visitors are not permitted in the operating room or day surgery procedure room. With permission of the attending physician, the spouse or significant other may be allowed in the operating room for surgical delivery of babies.

Emergency Department

• Visitors must remain with the patient, and no one leaving the patient room will be allowed to return. Two support persons (family members, friends, or other individuals) may be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of the emergency department visit, unless the individual’s presence infringes on other person’s rights, safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The individual may or may not be the patient’s surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative.
• Parents or designated support persons will be allowed to stay with pediatric patients at all times.

Laurel Place

• Daily Visiting Hours: 1:30 – 2:30 pm and 5:30 – 6:30 pm
• One visitor at a time.
• Call for a visitation appointment 304.630.3508

Family Birthing Center

• Two visitors are permitted during labor (even if labor occurs overnight). Following the birth of the newborn, only one visitor/support person is permitted to stay overnight for emotional support during the course of hospital stay. Must be the same two visitors throughout the hospital stay.
• Visiting Hours: 10 am – 6 pm. *Please note times for “Quiet Time”. Quiet Time is 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 10:30 pm to 6:00 am.  This is a time to allow the patient to rest and for new families to bond. Visitors will be asked to leave a message at Nurses Station.
• All visitors must be at least 18 years old.
• All visitors will be allowed access through a secure entry intercom system. Visitors/support persons may come and go only during established visiting hours.
• Visitors with known or suspected infections will be asked not to visit on the Family Birthing Unit.

North 2 and Clinical Decision Unit (CDU)

• Visiting Hours: 10am – 6pm Visitors/support persons may come and go only during established visiting hours.
• Two visitors per patient, per day. Must be the same two visitors throughout hospital stay.  One of these persons may be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of hospital stay or outpatient visit, unless the individual’s presence infringes on other persons’ rights, safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The individual may or may not be the patient’s surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative.
• Parents or designated support persons will be allowed to stay with pediatric patients at all times.

Intensive Care Unit

• Visiting Hours: 10am – 6pm. Visitors/support persons may come and go only during established visiting hours.
• All visitors will enter through the ICU waiting room.
• Two visitors per patient, per day. Must be the same two visitors throughout hospital stay. One of these persons may be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of hospital stay or outpatient visit, unless the individual’s presence infringes on other person’s rights, safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The individual may or may not be the patient’s surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative.
• All visitors must be at least 13 years old.
• Special situations can arise that may cause visiting hours to change. For example, visitors may be asked to leave or wait until a quieter time if a patient is having trouble, even if it is not your family member. These decisions will be made at the nurse’s discretion.
• Parents or designated support persons will be allowed to stay with pediatric patients.

Outpatient diagnostics (lab and x-ray) and all physician practice offices will allow two visitors per patient.

DirectCare of Elkins and 259STAT in Davis, WV are fully open and seeing patients inside the facilities.  Patients exhibiting covid symptoms will be asked to use the drive-thru care option to protect those in the waiting areas.  Acute illness and injury patients may enter the building.  Masks are required to enter.

Masks are required for entry into any Davis Health System location.  Those who do not comply will not be permitted to enter.

Due to the different nature of care provided in inpatient units, additional requirements for visitation may apply. Please call 304.636.3300 with questions.