March 8, 2022
Changes Effective on Tuesday, March 8, 2022
West Columbia, S.C. – In response to a decreasing number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, Lexington Medical Center is once again updating its visitation policies. These new policies are effective today - Tuesday, March 8, 2022.
Emergency Department/Urgent Care Centers
One visitor is allowed to accompany a non-COVID-19 patient being treated in the Emergency department. If the lobby reaches capacity, visitors will not be allowed to stay with patients. The visitor must stay in the patient’s exam room at all times and may help settle the patient into his or her inpatient room if admitted. Use the direct entrance to the Emergency department upon arrival.
Inpatients (Non-COVID-19 Patients)
Visitors are allowed to visit inpatients in non-COVID-19 units during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days per week. Depending on a patient’s tower location, please use the Main Entrance or the South Entrance of the hospital.
(This policy is updated from “two visitors” allowed.)
Obstetrics
Two support persons are permitted while the patient is in labor or has just delivered a child. One support person is allowed for C-sections. Support persons may not change. Please use the Main Entrance of the hospital. Visitors to the Mother/Baby unit are allowed during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days per week.
(This policy is updated from “one support person” allowed during labor, allows a support person during a C-section, and changes the number of visitors allowed on the Mother/Baby unit.)
Special Care Nursery
One visitor is permitted with the birth parent or her support person with an identification bracelet during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week. Birth parent and her support person with an identification bracelet are permitted at any time, but no more than two visitors are allowed at the infant’s bedside. COVID-19 vaccination is strongly encouraged for visitors of special care infants.
(Previously, visitors were not allowed in the Special Care Nursery.)
Surgical/Procedural Areas (Inpatient and Outpatient)
Two visitors are permitted in the specified lobby during a patient’s surgery or procedure at the main campus. They may help settle the patient into his or her room if admitted. For procedures at the main hospital, use the Main Entrance upon arrival. One visitor is allowed in the specified lobby during a patient’s surgery or procedure at other Lexington Medical Center facilities. Patients and visitors should use the Main Entrance to those buildings upon arrival.
Additional Information
No visitors are allowed for patients with COVID-19 or for patients suspected of or testing positive for COVID-19. Minors under the age of 16 are not permitted to visit.
All approved visitors must wear a face mask while in any Lexington Medical Center facility. Visitors must keep their masks on at all times, including when visiting patients in their rooms. All approved visitors will also be screened by staff before entering any Lexington Medical Center facility and may have to leave based on screening results.
Lexington Medical Center is a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It anchors a health care network that includes five community medical centers and employs a staff of more than 8,000 health care professionals. The hospital is ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro and #2 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by SC Biz News, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. Lexington Medical Cancer Center is an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence and has a clinical research and education affiliation with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina's first HeartCARE Center. The network also has an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, an Alzheimer's care center and more than 70 physician practices. Lexington Medical Center operates one of the busiest Emergency departments in South Carolina, treating nearly 100,000 patients each year. The hospital delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies.
