Hospital Implements Visitor Restrictions As Number of COVID-19 Patients Rises

Door County Medical Center (DCMC) reached a new high for COVID-19 inpatients Thursday, prompting the hospital to implement new visitor restrictions that will go into effect Friday, Jan. 7. 

Effective Friday, no visitors will be allowed for hospitalized patients, but exceptions may be made when the patient’s care plan would benefit from spouse or family support and in end-of-life situations.

“The health and safety of our patients and our team members are our top priority,” the hospital said in a statement announcing the changes. “We are seeing an increase in COVID cases in our community and want to do our part to protect our communities and ensure the safety of our health care workers.”

The hospital has reported six or more inpatients hospitalized with COVID-19 each day since Dec. 26, and for most of the last two months. Wednesday that rose to 10, and Thursday the number rose to 11. Door County reported 122 new positive COVID-19 tests on Wednesday. 

“These patients are the sickest we’ve had,” said Dr. James Heise, DCMC’s chief medical officer. “Our ICU is completely full with COVID.”

The hospital is licensed for 25 beds, and though it can add more beds and equipment, Heise has said that the number of patients that can be handled depends more on staff availability than bed availability. 

“We can add beds, but that doesn’t do any good if we don’t have the people to care for them,” Heise said in December.

For most of November and December, the hospital has operated near or at its patient capacity. 

For outpatient and clinic patients, one designated support person is allowed. The support person is required to be in the patient’s room and wear a mask at all times, but the care team may make special arrangements on a case-by-case basis if there are extenuating circumstances.

Visitors are allowed, with restrictions, in the skilled nursing facility. 

The expectations of designated support people are that they must:

• be 18 years or older.

• wear a medical-grade face mask that covers the nose and mouth at all times. No cloth masks will be allowed.

• use hand sanitizer to clean their hands upon entering DCMC, entering a patient room and prior to exiting a patient room.

• remain in a patient room or in a space designated by the staff.

The hospital will not allow congregations of visitors or support people in waiting rooms.

Designated support people are not allowed if they have COVID-19, have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19.

The hospital policy said that stating that someone has received COVID-19 vaccinations or has a history of COVID-19 recovery does not exempt support people from its guidelines.

Family members who have concerns or questions may call DCMC. To minimize interruptions to bedside caregivers, the hospital asks each patient to designate one individual who can serve as the spokesperson for friends and family members. This individual will be able to be the support person or call the nurse to receive detailed updates about the patient’s status.