MGRMC updates visitation policy

Contributed Photo/MGRMC

Contributed Article/Courtesy MGRMC

SAFFORD – Throughout the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the one constant health organizations and officials have been able to rely on with certainty has been the unending need to reevaluate and adapt to conditions that are constantly in flux.

Like the rest of society, the healthcare providers and staff at Mt Graham Regional Medical Center (MGRMC) would like nothing better than to adopt a smooth plan of transition that could be followed through to the end of this pandemic: a plan that would provide a clear picture of what can be expected and predictable at each stage of our recovery. Unfortunately, as everyone across the world has experienced over the last 10 months, this is not possible.

During the month of November, Graham and Greenlee counties have seen a significant spike in COVID-19 cases despite our community’s best effort to keep the virus at bay. These spikes have begun to slightly stress our hospital’s capacity to care for patients and threaten to further stress our capacity in the days to come.

With this reality, MGRMC has taken the opportunity to reevaluate our current visitation policies. Throughout the pandemic, it has been the goal of MGRMC to create an environment that remains true to the values of providing a community-oriented, patient-first experience. That goal remains a top priority. From the beginning, the hospital has made every effort to allow some visitation for patients experiencing the brutal effects of COVID-19. The organization remains committed to that vision. However, with the situation changing daily, MGRMC has made the decision to revisit the current visitation policy and reinstitute some additional restrictions and limitations that had been eased over recent months. These limitations include:

  • Visiting hours will be reduced in the ICU and on the Medical/Surgical floor
  • Visitor accessibility to the Emergency Department will be dependent on the volume and acuity of patients currently being cared for in the ED
  • All visitors to MGRMC will be required to wear a mask provided by the hospital. Additional information and specifics will be provided to visitors upon arrival at the hospital. MGRMC truly appreciates the cooperation and understanding of all patients and visitors as the community navigates this current chapter of the COVID-19 pandemic and looks forward to the day when normalcy returns to our valley.