UPDATED VISITOR RESTRICTIONS AND SERVICE CHANGES

MEDIA ALERT

Middleburg Heights, OH (Monday, Dec. 7, 2020) – With the rise of COVID-19 cases in Northeast Ohio, Southwest General is currently experiencing a high volume of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. To support our focus on the health and safety of patients, visitors and staff, the following updated visitor restrictions and service changes will be effective Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, and will continue until further notice.

Visitor Restrictions at Southwest General

• No visitors are allowed to see patients on any general medical/surgical floor or critical care unit.
• No visitors are allowed to see patients confirmed with COVID-19 or persons under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19.
• Only one (1) visitor is permitted to accompany a patient to an appointment in the facility if the patient needs assistance.
• No visitors are permitted in procedure areas or exam rooms.
• All visitors must remain in waiting areas and practice social distancing.
• All visitors will be screened upon entrance.

Emergency Services

• The Southwest General Emergency Rooms on our Main Campus and at the Brunswick Medical Center are open, safe and ready to care for patients.

• Only patients will be allowed in treatment/procedure areas. Support visitor must remain in the waiting area.

Surgical Services

• All nonessential surgeries requiring an inpatient stay are postponed until further notice.
• Emergency and other essential surgeries will continue as well as outpatient surgeries.
• Support visitor will be asked to remain in the waiting area.
• Our ambulatory surgery centers (the Surgery Center of Southwest General and Big Creek Surgery Center) will remain open with no change in service.

Maternity Services

• One (1) adult visitor is allowed for the duration of mom’s hospital stay, including overnight.

Behavioral Health Services

• For the safety and health of our patients, all visitors are restricted at this time.

We appreciate the continued cooperation and support of our communities as we work to provide safe, quality care to our patients and families. Additional information on visitor policy changes and Outpatient Services changes can be found at www.swgeneral.com/covid-19.

To schedule an interview with Southwest General’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ferdinand Plecha, please contact Caroline Fienga, at 216-299-7727 or cfienga@swgeneral.com.