Pre-Procedure Education Sheet

Effective Tuesday May 31, 2022, GBMC HealthCare will suspend the requirement for routine COVID-19 testing for the following groups of patients:

• Preoperative and pre-procedural patients: this includes patients undergoing scheduled elective surgery or procedures (both inpatient and outpatient) in the GOR, WOSC, Kroh Endoscopy unit, Labor and Delivery, Dance Center, sleep studies, and other GBMC procedural locations.
• Asymptomatic Emergency Departments patients requiring admission to GBMC.

GBMC Visiting Policy and Procedural Areas

• One visitor may accompany the patient to the registration area regardless of visiting hours.
• The visitor can wait in the designated waiting area until they receive a call from us with updates or patient pick up time. Seating may be limited in the designated waiting areas. Endoscopy visitors are encouraged to wait in the Endoscopy waiting room.
• Visitors who do not wish to wait in the waiting area may park in the designated GBMC parking garage (parking fees will apply).
• Visitors shall agree to abide by all hospital and infection control regulations
• One visitor will be permitted in the Preop and Phase II PACU for the purpose of reviewing discharge instructions and assisting the patient with dressing, etc.
• Two parents/guardians will be allowed into the hospital with the pediatric patient under 12 years of age.
• Upon admission to preop, two parents/guardians are brought back with the patient to alleviate any potential anxiety. Parents/guardians will be required to wear a mask while in the hospital.
• As soon as the patient is starting to wake and stable in the PACU, they are taken to Phase 2 to be with two parents/guardians, or the parents/guardians may be brought back to Phase 1 as necessary.
• For patients who are admitted post-surgery outside of the approved hospital visitation hours, the primary visitor will be permitted to visit the patient on the inpatient unit for one (1) hour. Extended visitation is approved on a case-by-case basis by the inpatient surgical team.

Special Considerations:

• For pediatric patients, refer to the COVID-19 Interim Mitigation Policy: Care of the Pediatric and Special Needs Patients Through Perioperative and Procedural Services
• Masks must be worn at all times when inside any GBMC HealthCare facility, and physical distancing of at least 6 ft. must be observed.
• All family members must use the hand sanitizer at the desk prior to visiting patients and the hand sanitizer at the bedside prior to returning to the waiting room. This is in accordance with the hospital’s infection control policy.
• Refrain from handshakes and hugs.
• Family, friends, and loved ones should use electronic devices and apps to keep in contact with patients whenever possible instead of visiting in person (i.e., phone, FaceTime, Skype, etc.).