Palm Bay-Health First updates Visitor Guidelines

Palm Bay, Florida-

Update as of Friday, July 23

Face masks are required inside all Health First locations and must remain worn in all spaces, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

Visits from friends and relatives are an important part of recovery, and we welcome them too. However, to protect against the spread of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, we have updated our visitor policy. The following policy is now in place:

• • Patients may have one visitor at a time and can switch out visitors.
  • Visitors must pass an entry screening upon each entry and re-entry.
  • No visitors younger than 18 years old at this time.
  • Visitation for COVID-19 positive or PUI patients is not allowed with the exception of end-of-life and labor/delivery patients.
  • Standard visitation hours will be from 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. (This does not apply to end-of-life, maternity, or emergency department visitors.)
  • Patients admitted outside of visitation hours will be allowed to have one visitor accompany them to the unit and stay until the patient is settled into their room.
  • Patients who come in for surgery or a procedure and are admitted can have one visitor accompany them to their room.
  • No overnight visitation (Exceptions for pediatrics, maternity, end-of-life and emergency services.)
  • Pediatric patients may have two visitors who must be either parents or guardians.
  • Maternity Services and NICU may have one visitor with the exception of a patient who has a doula. In this case, the patient may have both the support person and doula.

Other Rules and Regulations

• • Visitors should receive a Visitor ID pass at the Visitor ID Badging Station at Holmes Regional and Palm Bay Hospital.
  • Wash hands prior to entering or leaving a patient’s room.
  • Visitors should refrain from visiting when ill or recently exposed to a communicable illness or infection.
  • Visitors should maintain privacy by only entering the room of the patient they are visiting.
  • Facilitating rest and recovery by keeping noise and disturbances to a minimum.
  • Wear protective equipment when applicable.
  • Refrain from smoking, consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs on Health First premises.
  • Visitors should wear appropriate clothing such as shoes and shirts.
  • Abide by patient preferences, as well as clinically necessary restrictions or limitations.
  • Refrain from interfering with normal health care operations.
  • Limit visitation to times specified by each facility.