FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Nov. 17, 2022 – Starting today, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and Betsy Johnson Hospital will temporarily limit visitors under the age of 16 to certain units, due to the increased number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu cases in our community. Visitors under the age of 16, with the exception of parents of patients, are currently not allowed in Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s Family Centered Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatrics, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, or Labor and Delivery; or in Betsy Johnson Hospital’s Labor and Delivery or Pediatrics units. Other areas of the hospitals remain open for visitors aged 12 and older who are with a parent or guardian.
“We feel this is a necessary step to protect the vulnerable populations in these units at this time,” said Cape Fear Valley Health Chief Nursing Officer Susan Dees.
As of this morning, the medical center’s inpatient census included 23 patients with flu, 11 patients with RSV, and 13 patients with COVID-19.
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Cape Fear Valley facilities, and specific units within facilities, have been under varying visitation restrictions, which are not otherwise being changed at this time. The last time visitation was adjusted was in April. The full version of Cape Fear Valley’s most current visitation policy is always available online at www.capefearvalley.com/visit.
Under the current policy, most patients who have not tested positive for COVID-19 are allowed up to two visitors at a time, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and visitors may come and go during those hours. Some units have more restrictive visitation requirements. All non-COVID patients are allowed to have one visitor stay overnight in their room if space allows, but overnight visitors must be in the hospital before visiting hours close, and cannot leave and return after 8 p.m., until visiting hours reopen the next day.
COVID-19 patients are allowed one visitor per day, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and that visitor is not be allowed to come and go during that time. COVID-19 visitors must remain masked and gowned during their entire visit.
In the Emergency Department, visitors will not be allowed in the waiting room, but one visitor will be allowed once the patient has been given a room. Visitors to patients in the Emergency Department will be allowed to leave and return. Pediatric Emergency Department Patients will allow one parent/guardian with the child in the waiting room, and up to two parents/guardians once the child is placed in a room.