Augusta Health Visitation Guidelines (Low Level) – April 5, 2023

Augusta Health’s top priority remains the safety of our community, patients, and our team members. We recognize that visits from family and friends are important to our patients. Along with vaccinations, masks will continue to be an important tool we use to keep our community healthy and safe. We encourage patients and visitors to wear a mask if desired for their own health and safety. Augusta Health will continue to monitor Virginia’s COVID-19 patient dashboard and respiratory illness activity within our communities and make visitation and masking guideline changes, as necessary.

All non-COVID patients admitted to Augusta Health are permitted to have adult visitors from 8am-8pm. Minor visitors (under 18 years of age) are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

  • Pediatric Patients may have two (2) adult visitors/support persons after visitation hours.
  • Patients at the End of Life may have two (2) adult visitors/support persons after visitation hours.
  • Patients with Disabilities may have two (2) adult visitors/support persons after visitation hours.
  • Patients Giving Birth may have two (2) adult support persons during labor. After delivery, patient may have three (3) adult visitors/support persons; one (1) adult may stay with the patient after visitation hours (8pm-8am).
  • Patient in Skilled Nursing Facility may have visitors 24/7 (per CMS guidelines).

Effective: April 5, 2023, masking will be optional for patients, visitors, and team members within Augusta Health facilities, EXCEPT for the following high-risk circumstances where masking will be required:

  • Patients who are seeking treatment for a respiratory illness and team members caring for them
  • Patients who are immunocompromised and/or receiving immunosuppressive therapy and team members who are caring for them.
  • Patient who are seeking treatment in Medical and Radiation Oncology and team members who are caring for them.
  • Visitors and Team Members with new respiratory symptoms
  • Skilled Nursing Unit (*per leadership)

Additional Information:

  • Masks will continue to be readily available for patients and visitors who enter our facilities.
  • We encourage patients and visitors to wear a mask if desired for their own health and safety.
  • Any patient can request that a mask be worn by healthcare workers during clinical care, and this request will be honored by our healthcare professionals.
  • Visitor should not visit if they are sick, have COVID-19 symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with known or suspected COVID-19 within the past 10 days.
  • Self-screen for COVID-19 each visit. If screening positive, delay visitation for 10 days.