FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Medical Center will begin a new visitor policy to increase security beginning Jan. 1.

The new guidelines will require all visitors to stop at the medical center’s security desk and show a photo ID. If none is available, a temporary photo ID will be provided on the spot.

The temporary badges will be good for 12 or 24 hours. After that time, the paper the badge is printed on will display a red “VOID” symbol, indicating it has expired. The wearer must then return to the security desk for a new temporary badge.

The medical center has 35 entry points. Visitors will be limited to eight, including:

• Main lobby
• Valley Pavilion entrance from parking deck
• Loading dock rear entrance
• Melrose Road entrance
• Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center inpatient entrance
• Cancer Center
• Emergency Department
• Pediatric Emergency Department.

The medical center’s Children Center and Family Centered Care Unit will have an additional layer of security each time a visitor comes to either unit.

The new visitor management system will be rolled out at Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital and Bladen County Hospital in the coming months.