Madigan Army Medical Center Visitor Guidelines During COVID-19

In our continuing effort to protect patients, staff, and community from the spread of COVID-19, while continuing the face to face services, effective 8 February 2021, Madigan Army Medical Center and all outlying clinics will have a MODIFIED VISITOR POLICY. 

This applies to inpatient and outpatient settings. Patients will be authorized 1 ADULT caregiver/escort. 

Restrictions and exceptions are as follows:

Facility Entrances, Self-Screening & Precautions:

As services are reopening more widely, door screeners have been removed from Madigan’s entrances. We want our patients to know that the lack of screeners does not remove the requirement for all staff, patients and visitors to continue to observe the 3W’s:

• Wear a mask.

• Watch your distance (Social distancing).

• Wash your hands.

Patients entering without wearing a mask will politely be reminded by staff to wear a mask or be assisted in acquiring one from within one of the clinics or the information desk if they do not have one.

Any visitor, staff or patient who has suspected COVID-19 symptoms or known exposure are permitted self-referral to the COVID-19 screening tent during operating hours. After hours, patients who self-screen and suspect COVID symptoms or have known exposure should call ahead to the Emergency Room (ER) at 253-968-1390 for further guidance.

*Obstetric patients needing to be evaluated for labor or acute obstetric issue, who screen positive for COVID-19 or have had known exposure, will not go to the screening tent. Call ahead to (253) 968-1535
or (253) 968-1540 to Madigan's Labor & Delivery for further guidance.

Universal Face Covering/ Hand Hygiene:

ALL patients, caregivers/escorts, and staff (over the age of 2) are REQUIRED to wear a face covering at all times within the hospital, Emergency Room (ER), or outlying clinics in accordance with appropriate state, federal, and Defense Health Agency requirements.

If the individual does not have a mask or face covering, a mask will be provided when entering the building. ALL will be required to perform hand hygiene when entering the building.

Physical Distancing:

Physical distancing has been proven to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Instructions and signage for areas like waiting rooms, and lounges are in place to ensure 6 feet of physical distance is maintained.
Inpatient Caregiver/Escort/Visitor Restrictions/Exceptions:

• No caregivers/escorts/visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed.

• No escorts/caregivers/visitors will be allowed in rooms of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who are being tested for COVID-19. Exceptions are made for pediatric or end of life/critically ill patients.

• Labor and Delivery (L&D) patients admitted for labor will be allowed two ADULT visitors during their stay. Only one of those visitors will be allowed to stay overnight. Visitors are not limited to visiting hours.

• The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and inpatient Pediatric unit (4N) will be authorized TWO ADULT caregivers at a time. Caregivers are not limited to visiting hours.   

• Any L&D, Postpartum, PICU, or inpatient Pediatric patient (4N) that has tested positive for COVID-19 or who is being tested for COVID-19, will be permitted only one ADULT caregiver, and must remain in the patient room until discharge.

• Any NICU patient who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who is being tested for COVID-19 will not be permitted caregivers at this time.

• All other inpatient areas will be authorized one ADULT caregiver at a time, within visiting hours.

• End of Life/Palliative Care/critically ill may have two ADULT visitors a day. This is not limited to visiting hours.

• Further exceptions to this policy may be made on a case-by-case basis in concert with the multi-disciplinary care team at the discretion of the Attending Physician of Record.

All Outpatient Clinics, Outpatient Surgeries, and Procedures Caregiver/Escort/Visitor Restrictions/Exceptions:   

• One ADULT caregiver/escort may accompany the patient to their outpatient visit in the clinic. Clinics will monitor their waiting room and exam rooms to maintain physical distancing.

• One ADULT caregiver will be permitted for Pediatric appointments. Siblings are not permitted without exception.

• Pediatric surgical patients will be permitted one ADULT caregiver during their care. This adult is not limited to visiting hours and may wait in surgical waiting areas maintaining physical distancing.

• Adult surgical patients are allowed one adult escort to enter the facility and can remain for the duration of the procedure until disposition. Pediatric patients are allowed two adult escorts and can remain for the duration of the procedure until disposition.

• Radiology and Laboratory are not permitting visitors at this time due to limited waiting space. Pediatric patients and those with physical limitations will be allowed one ADULT caregiver/escort.

• Any patients attending group appointments will not be permitted caregivers/escorts due to limited meeting space.

• Further exceptions to this policy may be made on a case-by-case basis in concert with the multi-disciplinary care team at the discretion of the Attending Physician of Record.

Emergency Room (ER) Services Restrictions/Exceptions:

• The Emergency Room will have NO VISITORS for adult patients at this time. For the safety of all, any visitors that accompany adult ER patients will need to remain outside or in their cars.

• One ADULT visitor will be permitted for:

  • Elderly (requiring assistance, power of attorney, etc.)

  • Intoxicated or altered

  • Mental health patients

  • Pediatric patients

  • Critically ill or end of life

• Further exceptions to this policy may be made on a case-by-case basis in concert with the multi-disciplinary care team at the discretion of the Attending Physician of Record.