We are putting the safety of our most vulnerable population first. Therefore, we are following CDC and CMS guidelines to protect the health and safety of your loved ones. Even if you’ve met your local community criteria to discontinue isolation or quarantine, visitors with confirmed COVID-19 infection, compatible symptoms, or close contact as listed below shall defer non-urgent in-person visitation until they meet CDC criteria for healthcare settings to end isolation or quarantine.

• You have tested positive for COVID-19

• Have any COVID-19 symptoms or…

• Have had close contact to anyone with COVID-19

​We appreciate your help in following these important health and safety guidelines.

Our visitation policy:

Dear Residents, Patients and Families,

At American Health Communities, our highest priority is protecting the health and safety of those who live and work in our communities. At the same time, we understand it is important for our residents and patients to stay connected with loved ones through in-person visits.

We are now safely facilitating in-person visits in accordance with CMS guidelines found at CMS.gov. Call your AHC community for details.

Visits can be conducted in resident rooms, dedicated visitation spaces, or outdoors, depending on the facility’s structure and residents’ needs. Visitors, residents and their representatives should be aware visitation can increase the risk of COVID-19 infections and precautions will be required for anyone visiting a resident. However, if a visitor, resident, or their representative accepts the risks associated with visitation, and the visit occurs in a manner that does not place other residents at risk, a resident may receive visitors as he/she chooses.

If the nursing home’s county COVID-19 community transmission is high, everyone in a healthcare setting should wear face coverings or masks.

If the nursing home’s county COVID-19 community transmission is not high, the safest practice is for residents and visitors to wear face coverings or masks. Residents and their visitors when alone in the resident’s room or in a designated visitation area, may choose not to wear face coverings or masks and may choose to have close contact (including touch). Residents (or their representative) and their visitors should be advised of the risks of physical contact. If a resident’s roommate is present during the visit, it is safest for the visitor to wear a face covering or mask.

There is no limit on the number of visitors that a resident can have at one time. Visits should be conducted in a manner that adheres to the core principles of Covid 19 infection prevention and does not increase risk to other residents. During peak times of visitation and large gatherings (e.g. parties, events) facilities should encourage physical distancing.
 

The core principles of Covid 19 Infection Prevention are:

Facilities should provide guidance (e.g., posted signs at entrances) about recommended actions for visitors who have a positive viral test for COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19, or have had close contact with someone with COVID-19. Visitors with confirmed COVID-19 infection or compatible symptoms should defer non-urgent in-person visitation until they meet CDC criteria for healthcare settings to end isolation. For visitors who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection, it is safest to defer non-urgent in-person visitation until 10 days after their close contact if they meet criteria described in CDC healthcare guidance (e.g., cannot wear source control).

• Hand hygiene (use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred)
• Face covering or mask (covering mouth and nose) in accordance with CDC guidance
• Instructional signage throughout the facility and proper visitor education on COVID- 19 signs and symptoms, infection control precautions, other applicable facility practices (e.g., use of face covering or mask, specified entries, exits and routes to designated areas, hand hygiene)
• Cleaning and disinfecting high-frequency touched surfaces in the facility often, and designated visitation areas after each visit
• Appropriate staff use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Effective cohorting of residents (e.g., separate areas dedicated to COVID-19 care)
• Resident and staff testing conducted as required at 42 CFR § 483.80(h) (see QSO- 20- 38-NH)

AHC communities will remain vigilant in monitoring for positive cases among residents and staff members through appropriate passive screening and testing as indicated by the CDC. We will provide updates about any modifications to our visitation policies on this page.

Greg Haynes                                                    Sonya Pusser
Vice President, Operations                           AVP of Clinical Operations
American Health Communities                  American Health Partners