Coronavirus - update on visiting

The Connecticut Hospice is striving to keep up with the changing landscape of health care.  We set our policies based on advice from the CDC, the State of Connecticut, Federal agencies, and other hospitals in our region.

We are admitting patients who are COVID positive, in home care and in our inpatient facility.  In the latter, we have a designated area with separate access and egress, plus adequate PPE to ensure the safety of our staff and other patients.  In home care, we see patients both in nursing homes and in their own homes, regardless of COVID status.  Again, we have adequate PPE, and have taught our care workers the proper way to use it. 

In-Patient Visitor Policy as of May 19, 2021 - We allow visitors for all patients, but with the following restrictions: 

• We take everyone’s temperature upon arrival,
• We require masks to be worn at all times while Indoors. 
• Outdoors, masks are not required if fully vaccinated (2 weeks post 2nd dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson). 
• For each non-COVID patient we allow up to FOUR visitors at bedside. 
• There is NO limit to the number of visitors sitting outside with a patient.  There is a maximum of 100 total visitors allowed outside at one time.  All outside visitors must follow all other safety guidelines. 
• Any additional visitors must wait in the lobby, or outside the building and follow social distancing guidelines.  There cannot be any congregating of waiting visitors in the lobby.   
• COVID-19 patient visitor instructions are below. 

In keeping with the State of Connecticut policy,

If visiting is urgent, visitor may enter the facility if they have had a negative viral test (not an antibody test) for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to travel

We respectfully decline visitors to the Branford inpatient facility if - 

• You are under advisement by the State of Connecticut to self quarantine. 
• You have been in contact with anyone with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection (unless you are visiting a patient with known COVID-19 - see below).

COVID-positive patient visitors -

• We allow TWO visitors at a time, during hours from 8 AM to 8 PM, although staying overnight is permitted.
• We ask that visitors inform us when they are leaving, as we have a separate exit for people exposed to COVID. 
• We also use a separate elevator, and do not allow visitors to leave the patient’s room, once inside it. If you need to speak to a nurse or a doctor, you must use the call buzzer.
• Food may be brought in, but must be consumed inside that room. 
• Personal property such as photos will not be permitted to be kept at the bedside.

We want our patients to be able to have visitors, but that depends upon the willingness of all visitors to respect and follow our rules, which have been formulated for the safety of everyone.

We are very grateful, as always, for your referrals to us, and for your support of The Connecticut Hospice.  We invite you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and Instagram. There is a lot of information contained on these platforms, and many heartwarming stories to enjoy and share with others. 

It’s a whole new world that continues to evolve, and Ct Hospice is adjusting our norms and procedures as necessary.  At least one constant remains for us, however, and that is our commitment to the best in palliative and end of life care.  We are grateful for your continued support of that mission.