Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Beginning Thursday December 30, 2021 at 6:30 am, non-Covid-19 patients at Huntsville Memorial Hospital will be allowed ONE healthy visitor with the expectation that the visitor and the patient will be masked at all times.

Visitor Rules and Guidelines

• Visitors must be 12+.
• All approved visitors will be screened for temperature, respiratory symptoms and possible exposure upon entry to the hospital.
• Visitors will not be granted access if screening is failed or refused.
• Visitors will be fitted with a screening bracelet, which must be worn at all times during the visit.
• Visitors are required to wear an FDA-approved mask and practice social distancing.
• Visitors are required to stay in the patient’s room during their visit.
• Hand sanitizing will be required upon entry to the facility and at intermittent locations.
• In the interest of infection control, the visiting of multiple patients by one person will not be allowed.
• Visitation may be limited for COVID-19 patients- visitors should check with the patient's unit or nurse prior to arrival at the hospital.

Visitation Policies and Procedures

• Visiting hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week in non-critical areas.
• Surgical procedure visitors may escort the patient to registration and remain in the designated waiting rooms/lobbies during the patient’s procedure.
• Outpatient Procedures / Testing - Please limit bringing visitors with you for testing, treatment and therapy unless needed. Visitors will be subject to the screening and protection criteria.
• Women & Children’s Health Services visitation guidelines have been developed to reflect the unique needs of the population served.
• Visitors & Outpatient Procedures / Testing Patients should use the Main Entrance of the Hospital for entrance.

Liability Disclaimer

Though Huntsville Memorial Hospital has taken every known precaution to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the contagious nature of the coronavirus means that a possibility remains that you could still contract the virus while in any public place, including the hospital. Please follow the guidelines set out by staff and signage to protect yourself and decrease the risk of exposure. HMH assumes no responsibility should transmission of coronavirus/COVID-19 occur during any visitation of the hospital facility.

Important Ways to Slow the Spread

• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
• Stay 6 feet apart from others who do not live with you.
• Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

**please call your primary care physician to see if you qualify for treatment.**

WHO QUALIFIES FOR TREATMENT?

You may be eligible for this treatment if you have tested positive for COVID-19, are 12 years of age or older (and at least 88 pounds), and are at a greater risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms.

High risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization is defined as patients who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have a body mass index (BMI) ≥25
• Have chronic kidney disease
• Have diabetes
• Have immunosuppressive disease
• Are currently receiving immunosuppressive treatment
• Are ≥65 years of age
• Are ≥55 years of age AND have
• cardiovascular disease, or
• hypertension, or
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/other chronic respiratory disease.
• Are 12 – 17 years of age AND have
• BMI ≥85th percentile for their age and gender based on CDC growth charts,

https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm, or

• sickle cell disease, or
• congenital or acquired heart disease, or
• neurodevelopmental disorders, for example, cerebral palsy, or
• a medical-related technological dependence, for example, tracheostomy, gastrostomy, or positive pressure ventilation (not related to COVID-19), or
• asthma, reactive airway or other chronic respiratory disease that requires daily medication for control.

Information to order MAB infusion:

ALL patients will be required to have a POSITIVE Covid swab result on file at HMH, so a test MAY be required prior to infusion at HMH Infusion Center.

If you have any questions regarding the treatment, please call 936-291-4574.

These medications are NOT approved for use in patents who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 or require oxygen therapy. Benefits of treatment have not been observed in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be associated with worse clinical outcomes when given to patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen ventilation.

Visitation Advisory beginning Thursday, 8/12/2021

Due to the increase of COVID-19 in our community, we are enforcing a NO VISITOR policy. The hospital will NOT ALLOW visitors due to the increased risk to our patients and staff. Family and drivers of our patients are asked to remain in their vehicle until the patient is discharged. Extenuating circumstances will be addressed by our House Supervisor or Administrator on call.

Visitor Rules and Guidelines for Special Circumstances

• Visitors must be 18+.
• No ER visitors
• ONE parent/guardian for pediatric patients
• One support person for Labor & Delivery
• All approved visitors will be screened for positive Covid status, temperature, COVID symptoms and possible exposure upon entry to the hospital.
• Visitors will not be granted access if screening is failed or refused.
• Visitors will be fitted with a screening bracelet, which must be worn at all times during the visit.
• Visitors are required to wear a medical-grade mask and practice social distancing.
• If the visitor does not have a medical-grade mask, one will be provided at the screening station.
• Visitors are required to stay in the patient’s room during their visit.
• Hand sanitizing will be required upon entry to the facility and at intermittent locations.
• In the interest of infection control, the visiting of multiple patients by one person will not be allowed.
• No visitors will be allowed in COVID patient rooms.

Liability Disclaimer

Though Huntsville Memorial Hospital has taken every known precaution to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the contagious nature of the coronavirus means that a possibility remains that you could still contract the virus while in any public place, including the hospital. Please follow the guidelines set out by staff and signage to protect yourself and decrease the risk of exposure. HMH assumes no responsibility should transmission of coronavirus/COVID-19 occur during any visitation of the hospital facility.

Important Ways to Slow the Spread

• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
• Stay 6 feet apart from others who do not live with you.
• Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

July 7, 2021

TWO healthy visitors will be allowed in our Medical and Surgical Units with the expectation that the visitors and the patient will be masked at all times. TWO visitors will be allowed in Labor & Delivery.

Visitor Rules and Guidelines

• Visitors must be 18+.
• All approved visitors will be screened for temperature, respiratory symptoms and possible exposure upon entry to the hospital.
• Visitors will not be granted access if screening is failed or refused.
• Visitors will be fitted with a screening bracelet, which must be worn at all times during the visit.
• Visitors are required to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
• Hand sanitizing will be required upon entry to the facility and at intermittent locations.
• In the interest of infection control, the visiting of multiple patients by one person will not be allowed.
• No visitors will be allowed in COVID patient rooms.

Visitation Policies and Procedures

• Visiting hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week in non-critical areas.
• ICU will allow TWO healthy visitors per day for Non-COVID patients only
• ER will allow only one visitor per patient as circumstances permit.
• Surgical procedure visitors may escort the patient to registration and remain in the designated waiting rooms/lobbies during the patient’s procedure.
• Outpatient Procedures / Testing - Please avoid bringing visitors with you for testing, treatment and therapy unless needed. Visitors will be subject to the screening and protection criteria.
• Women & Children’s Health Services visitation guidelines have been developed to reflect the unique needs of the population served.

Liability Disclaimer

Though Huntsville Memorial Hospital has taken every known precaution to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the contagious nature of the coronavirus means that a possibility remains that you could still contract the virus while in any public place, including the hospital. Please follow the guidelines set out by staff and signage to protect yourself and decrease the risk of exposure. HMH assumes no responsibility should transmission of coronavirus/COVID-19 occur during any visitation of the hospital facility.

Important Ways to Slow the Spread

• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
• Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
• Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.

April 22, 2020

Huntsville Memorial Hospital implemented a policy that requires all of our staff to wear face masks while at work. Proper PPE will be worn in isolation rooms, but any homemade or store bought mask will be worn when not in isolation in order to protect all of our patients.

March 23, 2020

Huntsville Memorial Hospital continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow strict protocols. In a press release by the Office of Emergency Management on 3/22/2020, there is a confirmed positive case in Walker County. In an attempt to decrease the risk of a community spread, Huntsville Memorial Hospital will be following several recommended measures from the CDC and Governor Abbott’s Executive Order to minimize the risk of spread of this coronavirus infection.

Starting Tuesday, 3/24/2020 at 7am, the front entrance to the hospital will close and remain closed until further notice. The Emergency Department entrance will be the entrance for the allowed public and patients. The hospital will NOT ALLOW visitors due to the increased risk to our patients and staff. The only exceptions will be a parent/guardian for our pediatric patients, 1 support person for our Labor and Delivery patients. Visitor must be 18yrs old or over. Screening will continue at this entrance.

Our Emergency Department will not be allowing visitors. Family and drivers of our patients are asked to remain in their vehicle until the patient is discharged. 1 parent of pediatric patients will be allowed. Extenuating circumstances will be addressed by our House Supervisor or Administrator on call.

Governor Abbott’s Executive Order dictates that all elective surgeries, procedures, therapies and tests be postponed until 11:59 pm on April 21, 2020. Our physicians have been informed that only urgent surgeries, procedures, therapies and tests will be performed. Our staff will notify patients if their procedures have been delayed.

We are asking that all visitors with exposure stay away from the hospital. If you do not have symptoms, please do not come to the Emergency Department to be tested because our resources are stretched. Anyone needing emergency services may continue to come seeking healthcare.

AHA-AMA-ANA Urge Americans to stay home to combat COVID-19

Useful Links:

CDC website

Texas Department of Health Services - DSHS has a decidated call center that is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, please call 1-877-570-9779.

Cases & Latest Updates

Walker County Office of Emergency Management