March 6, 2020

Marshall Medical Centers updates visitation policy for hospitals

GUNTERSVILLE, AL–MARCH 6, 2020-To protect patients, staff and visitors from the potential spread of illness, Marshall Medical Centers will temporarily limit the number of visitors allowed in patient rooms and suspend student job shadowing programs.

Effective immediately, no more than two visitors at a time will be allowed in patient rooms at Marshall North and Marshall South.

Anyone with a fever, cough, body aches or sore throat is asked to please not visit the hospitals unless you are seeking health care.

In addition, the hospitals ask that children under 16 not visit patients, even when accompanied by adults. Exceptions will be made for extraordinary circumstances.

Finally, each visitor is required to sanitize his or her hands when entering the hospital, and when entering and exiting patient rooms.

For the most up to date coronavirus information and resources, please call the Alabama Department of Public Health at (334) 206-5347 or visit alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/2019-coronavirus.html.

The spread of the novel coronavirus COVID 19 is alarming but the leadership of Marshall Medical Centers wants to assure the community that preparations are in place to respond if there is an outbreak locally. 

“In this area we are at low-risk for coronavirus but we don’t want to be unprepared,” Gloria Clemons, Infection Preventionist for Marshall Medical Centers, stated during a systemwide meeting.

MMC leadership would like for the public to know:

• Hospital housekeeping staff has been trained on the proper solution that kills the virus
• Laboratory staff has been trained on the proper way to collect specimens
• ER staff asks patients as they enter the hospital whether they have travelled outside the U.S. and whether they have fever. If they answer yes to either question they are isolated from other patients and given a mask. The Alabama Department of Public Health will conduct testing and will monitor patients who are sent home.
• Like flu, the coronavirus spreads through sputum, which makes it especially important to cover your mouth when you cough, wash hands frequently and stay at home when you’re sick.

• Please do not report to the hospital out of fear. Calling your physician or the hospital is preferable to showing up at the emergency department. Questions can be answered over the phone and people are safer at home where they are not exposed to as many germs. The goal with this virus, like any virus, is to minimize the spread. So, if you are in need of medical attention, if you can call first, then your providers can be prepared.

Marshall Medical Centers and other hospitals across the state are coordinating with the Alabama Department of Public Health to stay abreast of the latest developments with the virus, and we will continue to work with our public health officials to stay as prepared as possible. We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our patients and our staff.

Marshall Medical Centers is part of the Huntsville Hospital Health System, which includes hospitals in Huntsville, Madison, Athens, Decatur, Boaz, Guntersville, Moulton, Red Bay, Sheffield, Russellville and Fayetteville, Tenn. The Health System includes more than 2,200 patient beds and 15,000 employees.