SW Georgia News

Town of Bluffton issued the following announcement on Aug. 17

Beaufort Memorial: New visitor and patient waiting area restrictions announced

Beaufort Memorial Hospital is implementing new measures to protect patients, staff, and community members during the rapid and widespread surge in COVID-19 cases.

Effective TODAY, Tuesday, August 17, at 8 pm:

• Visitors will not be permitted in the hospital, except under the following specific circumstances:
  • Emergency Room: One parent per minor child (under age 18).
  • Labor and Delivery: One designated visitor per patient.
  • Pediatric Unit: One designated visitor per patient.
  • Acute Inpatient Rehab Unit: One designated visitor per patient for discharge planning.
  • Patients requiring assistance and end-of-life care will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Online Check-In for the Emergency Center is suspended. Patients who need emergency care should call 9-1-1 or proceed immediately to the nearest ER.
• Beaufort Memorial Express Care clinic waiting areas will be closed. Patients visiting the Port Royal and Bluffton Express Care locations will be asked to park, call the clinic phone number and wait to be seen by a provider. No visitors will be allowed into the clinics.
• Beaufort Memorial Surgical Pavilion and Outpatient Surgery Center waiting areas will be closed to visitors. Caregivers will be asked to wait in their cars pending notification that the patient is ready to leave.
• All hospital and outpatient clinic waiting rooms will be closed to visitors. Caregivers will be asked to wait in their cars pending notification that the patient is ready to leave.

Hilton Head Regional Healthcare visitation policy change

Hilton Head Regional Healthcare continues to closely monitor the outbreak of the COVID-19 Delta variant and cases in our area.

For the safety of our patients and staff, effective Wednesday, August 18, 2021, we will be re-instituting a no-visitor policy and will no longer be accepting visitors into the facility until further notice. We appreciate your understanding. There will be very limited exceptions: 

One visitor will be allowed, with review and approval by clinical leadership, for the following:

• Obstetrics patients
• Patients who are critically ill or at the end of life
• Minor patients under the age of 18
• Patients who need a healthcare decision maker, or visitor to help in communication or mobility

Patients can use their personal device for virtual visits and phone calls. Patients can also elect to have family and friends receive updates from their care team.

Hilton Head Regional Healthcare will continue to monitor the evolution of the pandemic and make adjustments as appropriate.

Original source can be found here.