"COVID SAFETY" standards and precautions implemented at the hospitals enable a phased reinstatement approach to visitation policies during pandemic

Palm Beach County, FL – June 5, 2020 – Tenet Healthcare’s Palm Beach Health Network hospitals announced today that visitation policies have been relaxed to allow one designated support person to accompany each elective surgery, pediatric and maternity patient. The visitation policy for elective surgery is for the entire network, which includes Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center. Maternity patients at the hospitals offering these services, Good Samaritan Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center, and pediatric patients at West Boca Medical Center and the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center, can rest assured that when choosing one of these facilities, they can bring a support person with them who meets screening criteria.

“We have done our due diligence and piloted this initial phase of welcoming visitors back to our hospitals for elective surgery, pediatric and maternity patients for the last few weeks, and it has been safe and successful. We have launched a number of videos highlighting our safety protocols, and how to prepare for your procedure that are available on our websites and social media. Our safety standards are working, and they are designed to offer peace of mind to patients and their loved ones receiving care,” said Palm Beach Health Network Chief Executive Officer, Maggie Gill. “As we continue to navigate through this next phase of re-opening, nothing is more important to us than ensuring our community has access to safe care. We will continue to monitor our progress and look forward to further expanding visitor access in the coming weeks.”

Visitors will be screened for fever, respiratory symptoms or travel to high risk locations prior to entering the hospitals, and required to wear visitor identification, a facemask, and sanitize their hands. Specifically designated waiting areas allow physical distancing for designated visitors and include additional cleaning protocols. Any visitor not meeting screening criteria will not be permitted to enter the hospitals. All staff, physicians, patients and visitors are screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering the hospitals.

The safety standards were developed with key principles in mind to maximize safety – maintain vigilance of all potential risks, create separate care pathways and take a multi-factor approach to maintaining a safe environment for patients and visitors.

The Palm Beach Health Network hospitals’ safety standards are built upon deep clinical expertise and ongoing management of COVID-19, as well as continuous incorporation of CDC, CMS and state recommendations. They are a rigorous combination of infection prevention processes, training, testing, personal protective equipment and technology. Standards include the following components:

• Separate COVID and NON-COVID care areas with clear signage and protocols
• Rigorous physician and staff protocols – daily screening, universal masking and access to PPE
• Heightened sanitization – enhanced cleaning of surfaces and plenty of hand sanitization stations
• Access to COVID-19 testing – testing for patients, physicians and staff who require it
• Precautions for patients and visitors – provision of facemasks, hand sanitizer and physical distancing