Mary Washington Healthcare Announces Visitation Red Status at All Facilities

Fredericksburg, VA, September 2, 2021—Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) is moving to visitation red status on Friday, September 3, 2021. Visitation red status indicates no visitation in an MWHC facility.

“With the drastic rise in COVID-19 cases in our community and under our care in our hospitals and facilities, it is in the best interest for the safety of our staff, providers, and patients to restrict visitation at this time,” says Christopher Newman, MD, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer for MWHC.

Visitation red status restricts all visitation in MWHC facilities with few exceptions.

Visitation exceptions include:

• Minor patients may have two designated caregivers (parent or guardian) throughout their hospital stay, but only one parent or guardian in the facility at a time; minor patients in the emergency department, outpatient facilities (such as doctor’s offices, imaging centers, etc.), or same-day procedure may have one parent or guardian with them for their visit.
• Individuals with disabilities may have one designated caregiver throughout their hospital stay; individuals with disabilities in the emergency department, outpatient facilities (such as doctor’s offices, imaging centers, etc.), or same-day procedures may have one parent or guardian with them for their visit.
• Patients giving birth can have one designated support person throughout their stay.
• The clergy may continue to provide brief supportive visits with prior approval by the pastoral care department.
• Compassionate care visits may be approved as determined by the patient’s care team.

MWHC has restricted visitation since the start of the pandemic in March of this year. However, full restrictions have not been in place for several months.

“COVID-19 cases have nearly tripled in the last week,” says Dr. Newman. “We know that restricting visitation creates added stress for our patients and their loved ones. We made this decision knowing it is for everyone’s safety. Our team is prepared to support our patients and their families in connecting through phone calls and video chats.”

MWHC will continue to assess visitation restrictions based on community cases and COVID-19 patient volumes. Visitation status and restrictions can be found online at www.mwhc.com.

MWHC leadership implores our community to do their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19: wear a mask indoors and outside when in the proximity of anyone not from your immediate household; physical distance (greater than six feet) from that outside of your immediate household; stay home whenever possible, and practice good hand hygiene.

If you are experiencing symptoms and not sure where to seek care, call the MWHC free triage line. The Health Link nurses are available daily from 6:00 a.m. to midnight by calling 540.741.1100.

Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional medical system that provides inpatient and outpatient care through over 50 facilities including Mary Washington Hospital, a 471-bed regional medical center, and Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital. Mary Washington Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to providing care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, visit mwhc.com.