Morristown Medical Center Limits Visitation Amid Coronavirus

MORRISTOWN, NJ — As coronavirus cases continue to increase throughout the community, Morristown Medical Center updated its visitor policies. Atlantic Health System updated its policies Friday in its hospitals, including Chilton, Hackettstown, Newton, Overlook and Goryeb Children's Hospital.

Most adult inpatients can have one visitor per day between 12-8 p.m. The visitor must be the same person within a 24-hour period. Confirmed COVID-19 patients and people under investigation for the virus can't have a visitor. Those in behavioral-health units and immunocompromised patients can't have one unless approved by the care team.

Adults in the emergency department can have one adult visit. But the support person may be asked to leave depending on the amount of activity in the emergency room. The support person must remain the same for the duration of the visit. One parent or guardian is allowed for a pediatric emergency visit.

Pediatric patients may have two parents or guardians with them during the day. One parent or guardian may remain overnight and throughout the duration of the inpatient hospital stay.

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Maternity-care patients may have one visitor, who must be the same person throughout the mother's stay. One doula will be allowed, but they must also be the same doula throughout the stay.

"Exceptions may be made for patients receiving compassionate end-of-life care, pediatric patients, and caregivers for patients with special needs, which may include intellectual, developmental or cognitive impairment including dementia, communication barriers or behavioral concerns," the announcement says. "Patients will be asked to provide contact information for a family member or support person who will receive updates on their care."

Find more information here.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported the following capacity data for Morristown Medical Center as of Jan. 21:

• Total beds (7-day average): 846.1
• All adult inpatient beds: 712.3
• Inpatient beds occupied: 541.6
• Percent of inpatient beds used: 76.04%
• Total adult patients confirmed and suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 100.9
• Total adult patients confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 89
• Percent of adult inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 14.17%

Read more: Here's How Close Morristown Area Hospitals Are To Capacity: Weekly Update

Health experts have said that the share of each hospital's total beds devoted to coronavirus is key to understanding the strain on its resources. A share greater than 10 percent is said to be a cause of concern. When that share exceeds 20 percent, a hospital is said to be under extreme stress, and as the share approaches 50 percent the stress is said to be immense.

Morris County officials reported 100 new coronavirus cases from Jan. 21 through Friday in Morristown, bringing the area to 1,618 cases since the pandemic began.

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