AdventHealth changes patient visitation policy

Effective Monday, Aug. 2, COVID-19-positive patients no longer will be allowed in-person visitors at AdventHealth's Central Florida facilities.

"We have made the decision to move from in-person visits to virtual visits for COVID-19 positive patients," hospital officials said in a news release. "Exceptions will be made for children under the age of 18, obstetrics, pediatrics and end-of-life situations."

The Central Florida division includes Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk, Volusia and Flagler counties.

AdventHealth will make patient experience experts available to help patients connect with loved ones virtually, should assistance be needed.

The policy change is being made to support AdventHealth team members better care for the increasing number of COVID patients being seen across Central Florida.

ADVENTHEALTH CENTRAL FLORIDA VISITOR POLICE (EFFECTIVE AUG. 2) 
COVID-19 positive: Virtual visits only
Non-COVID-19 patients: One visitor at a time
Obstetrics and pediatric patients: Two visitors at a time
Under 18 COVID-19-positive patients: Two adult caregivers at a time
OB COVID-19 positive symptomatic C-Section: Two visitors a day, no visitors in OR

The change in policy comes after AdventHealth moved to "black" status Thursday, July 29. Under this status, the hospital deferred all non-emergency surgeries at hospitals throughout the division. The status is being reviewed daily and will be updated should conditions change.