Visitation Restrictions Partially Lifting across Bassett Healthcare Network This Week

Now effective, Bassett Healthcare Network has partially lifted visitation restrictions at its inpatient and clinic locations across the region.

General Inpatient Visiting Guidelines – All Hospitals:
Bassett Healthcare Network’s inpatient hospital locations – including A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta, Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, Cobleskill Regional Hospital, Little Falls Hospital, and O’Connor Hospital in Delhi – are now permitting three visitors at a time per non-COVID-patient between the hours of 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily. COVID-positive patients may have virtual visits only. General inpatient visitors must be at least 12 years old. Full visitation guidelines are available on www.bassett.org.

Please note that extenuating circumstances will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis for end-of-life patients and other exceptional situations.

Outpatient Settings, Clinics, Other Off-Site Locations:Patients may have one visitor within the waiting area and exam room during their visit. Social distancing must be observed.

Hospital Visitation Exceptions:

• Inpatient Psychiatry – Bassett Medical Center
  Bassett Medical Center’s Inpatient Psychiatry Department may have differing hours based on patient needs; visitors to this area are encouraged to consult with their loved one’s care team and plan ahead.
• Birthing Center – Bassett Medical Center
  Bassett Medical Center’s Birthing Center is not currently permitting any visitors; however, patients may have a support person and a doula, if they wish, at the bedside throughout labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period. Support persons must be at least 18 years old.
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Special Care Unit (SCU) at Bassett Medical Center
  Critical care patients in Bassett’s ICU and SCU may have up to two visitors at the bedside between the hours of 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily. Visitors to critical care areas must be at least 14 years old unless otherwise approved by the patient’s care team.
• Emergency Departments
  All Emergency Departments across Bassett Healthcare Network remain closed to visitors. Patients may have up to one support person at the beside on a case-by-case basis (for children, those who are cognitively impaired, etc.). Support persons must be at least 18 years old and approved by the patient’s care team.

Support Person Guidelines in All Locations:

In general, support persons may visit between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. for patients who require cognitive or other extra support. Other extenuating circumstances – like for end-of-life patients and young children, will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis. Support persons should be 18 years of age or older, except in rare situations approved by a patient’s clinical team. Patients will determine who their support persons will be. Visit www.bassett.org for more details about support persons.

In all care areas, once in the facility, both visitors and support persons must remain in the patient’s room throughout the visit, except when directed by hospital staff to leave during certain care procedures.

Ongoing Reminders about Community COVID-19 Testing & Vaccination
For patients and community members experiencing minor symptoms – like a sore throat, cough, runny nose, headache, chills, body aches, or low-grade fever – the following COVID-19 testing options are the best course of action:

• Visit your trusted primary care practitioner
• Find a state testing site near you by visiting https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you.

Patients are urged not to use emergency departments for routine COVID-19 testing; please reserve emergency department resources for people experiencing emergent and critical care needs.

The most important thing we can do right now to help control the spread of COVID-19 is to get vaccinated as soon as possible, including obtaining a booster shot. COVID-19 vaccines are free and available in all of Bassett Healthcare Network’s clinics, school-based health centers, at regularly scheduled community vaccine clinics hosted by Bassett, and at retail pharmacies. Visit www.bassett.org for the latest list of Bassett’s upcoming clinic events.

Additionally, always wearing a properly fitting mask in public, washing your hands frequently, and staying home when you experience symptoms are all effective and responsible practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19, flu, and other respiratory illnesses.