Click here for information about COVID-19 testing at Capital Health.
As the region’s leader in providing progressive, quality patient care, Capital Health has been taking an organized approach to meeting the needs of the community during the COVID-19 crisis and going forward. Our protocols follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and the New Jersey Hospital Association.
As we resume a broader range of the inpatient and outpatient care that you rely on, rest assured that we will continue to balance our patient-focused approach to care with best practices in infection prevention for our patients and staff. Here are the safety procedures we have in place to protect you and your loved ones from infection.
Everyone entering our facilities is required to have their temperature taken. Anyone with a temperature equal to or greater than 100° F is not allowed to enter our facilities.
Masks are no longer required in Capital Health facilities when there is not direct, active patient care, such as in hallways, waiting areas, or at nurses’ stations. Care providers and patients in direct patient care settings must wear masks throughout the interaction when receiving care. If they don’t have one, a mask is provided for them. To facilitate social distancing, we’ve created more areas for waiting and registration. If you need to use an elevator, please limit occupancy to four (4) people, each positioned in a corner of the elevator.
For patient’s safety:
- We follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and use isolation precautions for hospitalized patients.
- When talking with patients in our public spaces, social distancing is practiced. In some locations, Plexiglas barriers have been installed to help prevent contamination.
- Patients receiving direct care must wear a mask throughout the interaction. Clean sheets are placed on all stretchers after each use.
- All surfaces in patient care areas are cleaned between patients using the hospital-approved disinfectant cleansers.
- After using disinfectant cleansers, portable ultraviolet lights are used in rooms as an added disinfectant measure.
- We use electronic flagging to identify patients with communicable disease.
For visitor’s safety:
- Visitors are currently restricted. NJHA issued updated guidance on hospital visitation on November 19, 2020. This guidance provides for three general tiers of visitation (red, yellow, green). The guidance recognizes that individual hospitals and units face challenges that require specific solutions. Capital Health is following the NJHA guidance. Click here for details.
Click here to download/print the COVID-19 Waiver that must be completed by all hospital visitors.
- For patients who are concerned about visitor restrictions, our nurses and Patient Experience Department can help set up video calls with loved ones. If patients do not have access to a mobile device, one will be provided for them in order to make a video call.
- Furniture in common areas is arranged to meet social distancing guidelines.
- Our staff regularly cleans common areas and high-touch surfaces with hospital-approved disinfectant cleansers.
- In our cafeterias, foods are individually wrapped to limit handling. This includes items formerly offered at salad bars and breakfast bars.
- Only four people are permitted per elevator, spaced out to the corners.
- Maintain appropriate social distancing.
For staff safety:
- All staff members follow strict hand hygiene protocols.
- Any staff member who feels ill must call out from work and follow current Human Resources policies regarding his or her absence. If an employee is symptomatic (temperature is equal to or greater than 100° F or if he or she has flu-like symptoms), we follow CDC guidelines regarding when he or she can return to work.