Pandemic Guidelines for Patients and Visitors

Be Safe While at CMH

Updated 07/29/2020

Welcome! Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) and CMH Medical Group caregivers are doing everything they can to keep you safe, but we need your help. Please review these guidelines.

Thank you for your cooperation. This is the best way to protect our patients, staff and community from spreading the novel coronavirus. If you need medical care, please call your primary care provider’s office, use a Virtual Urgent Care, or visit an urgent care clinic.

What to Expect

Symptoms of COVID-19

Everyone entering a CMH facility must be screened for COVID-19. This is to protect patients, staff and the community and to comply with Oregon Health Authority mandates. If you feel that you have been inappropriately restricted from CMH, please contact patient relations at 503-338-4003.

You may be denied entry if:

• You have symptoms of COVID-19; or
• You have an exposure risk for COVID-19.

Questions you will be asked:

1. Do you have symptoms, including cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, body aches, or new loss of taste or smell?
2. Had any contact with known or suspected COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days?
3. Had any testing for, or diagnosis of COVID 19?
4. Have you traveled internationally in the last 14 days or on a cruise ship in the last 30 days?

Anyone entering the CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative will also have their temperature taken with a touch-less, infrared thermometer.

Door Hours: Please note that some hospital entrances have been closed or have limited hours.

How to wear a mask properly

Masks are Required

Masks are required for all public indoor spaces in Oregon. If you arrive at a CMH facility without a mask or cloth face covering, you will be given a mask. 

Patients and visitors over the age of 12 are required to mask unless they have a medical condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a mask. Patients 2-12 years old are strongly recommended, but not required, to wear a mask. Children under 2 years old are excluded from masking requirements.

Companions or visitors who refuse to wear a mask will be asked to leave unless they have a medical condition that contraindicates wearing a mask and they are essential to the patient’s care. If they have such a medical condition, they should be asked to be present only when absolutely necessary, not talk any more than required to assist the patient, and to practice physical distancing at all times.

Guidelines for all visitors

General Guidelines For Your Safety:

• Stay at least 6-feet away from people you do not live with.
• You must wear a cloth, paper or disposable face covering at all times while indoors. A face covering helps prevent the spread of viruses.
• Avoid touching your face or mask. If you do touch your face or mask, wash or sanitize your hands right away, before touching anything else.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue. If you use a tissue, throw the tissue away and wash or sanitize your hands right away.
• Request that your temperature be checked at any time at a CMH Screening Station or Nursing Station.

Clinic Visits | Emergency or Urgent Care | Same Day Surgery

For Patients: Guidelines for receiving care

• Call ahead if you have any of these symptoms:
  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Body aches
  • New loss of taste or smell
• Check if your clinic offers telehealth appointments.
• Come to your appointment alone, when possible. We encourage you to use video chat services instead.
• Adults who would benefit from the help of a companion may bring one person (12 years old or older) to their appointment. Minor patients may be accompanied by two parents/guardians.
• You must wear a mask at all times, unless a CMH caregiver directs you otherwise.

For Companions: Guidelines for coming along to someone else’s appointment

• Patients may bring one person 12 or older to an appointment. 
• Consider using a video chat service to “sit in” on appointments when the patient is capable of going to appointment alone, but would like your support.
• You must wear a mask at all times, even when you are with a patient who is a member of your household.

Hospital Stays

For Patients: Staying safe while in the hospital

CMH is following the Oregon Health Authority guidelines for screening and entrance to hospitals.

• You may have one (1) visitor at a time. Visitors must be 12 or older.
  • Exceptions to the one-visitor rule may apply in certain cases, including:
    • Family Birthing Center patients may have an adult visitor in addition to their significant other/birth partner, when the birth partner is staying in that patient’s room.
    • Patients with special needs or concerns may have exceptions with approval. People who meet these criteria include those who are unable to care for themselves or who have communication difficulties; patients at end-of-life; and minor children.
• All visitors must be screened and meet screening criteria for infection prevention.
• Visitors must wear a mask at all times.
• Stay 6-feet away from visitors you do not live with.
• Do not eat or drink with a visitor, unless they are a member of your household.
• Use Assistive Technology: Ask the nursing staff about setting up a group Skype or phone call. CMH has dedicated iPads or tablets for this use.
  Concerns.
• Know Your Rights: Some patients’ right to designate up to three support persons is covered by SB1606.

For Visitors: Guidelines for visiting someone in the hospital

When visiting a patient in the hospital, please:

• Limit Visitors: Follow the hospital’s limits on the number of guests a patient may have during a single visit. Visitors must be 12 or older.
• Social Distance: Stay 6-feet away from people you do not live with, when using common areas, including waiting rooms.
• Wear a Mask: You must wear a mask at all times, even when you are with a patient who is a member of your household.
• Eat or Drink Carefully: Do not eat or drink in a patient’s room, unless they are a member of your household. You may purchase food from the cafeteria and sit outside or in your vehicle to eat. Only staff are allowed to eat in the cafeteria at this time.
• Use Assistive Technology: Ask the nursing staff about setting up a group Skype or phone call. CMH has dedicated iPads or tablets for this use.

COVID-19 Updates