PARIS, TN – As Henry County and the entire country see an increase in COVID-19 cases, Henry County Medical Center has made the decision to restrict visitation beginning Wednesday, August 4, 2021.

“This morning our facility had a total of 13 COVID-19 inpatients with seven of those in our CCU unit and three on ventilators,” said Lisa Casteel, HCMC CEO. “At the beginning of last week, we were seeing two to four COVID-19 inpatients. With this significant increase and the increased number of positive cases in the Emergency Room and physician offices, we believe it is best to close our visitation. We are also reopening our COVID-19 unit located on 2 East.”

As of Wednesday, August 4, there will be NO VISITORS ALLOWED at HCMC. The only exceptions will be needed caregivers or support person such as a driver or parent of a patient under 18 years of age. Some special circumstances may apply and will be approved on a case-by-case basis, mainly in End-Of-Life situations.

Entrances to HCMC: There will only be 3 Patient/Support Person entrances to HCMC; the entrance from the patient parking lot/bridge, the front circle entrance, and the Emergency Department entrance. All other entrances will be locked to patients and visitors.
Entrance Hours: The two front entrances will be locked daily to patients/support persons from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will be locked on the weekends starting at 5 p.m. on Friday to open at 5 a.m. on Monday. The Emergency Department entrance will be open 24 hours a day.
Outpatient and Inpatient Surgery: One visitor/driver is allowed with outpatient surgery patients. Two guardians are allowed with patients under the age of 18.
Women’s Center (OB Unit): Only 2 persons will be allowed. They will need to stay in the room with the patient. No interchanging of visitors.
Special Care Nursery: Only the mother and father will be allowed for visitation. No grandparents or other immediate family.
HCMC Iris Cafe’ will be closed to the public. Partners and allowed visitors per guidelines ONLY.
HCMC Pink Petal Gift Shop: Closed until further notice.
Surgery Waiting Room: Closed

Other Unit Visitation and Restrictions are as follows:

Emergency Room

Every Patient that Presents to the Emergency Department Must Wear a Mask.
Only Patients are Allowed to Wait in the ER Waiting Room. Family Members or Visitors Must Wait in Their Vehicles for Notifications on the Patient.
No Visitation Will Be Allowed in the ER Rooms Unless:
- The Patient is Under Age and Needs a Parent; or
- Special Circumstances Approved by the Medical Provider (Physician or Midlevel) treating the patient.
- These allowed individuals must also wear a mask.

Women’s Center

No children under the age of 13 will be allowed.
Only 2 visitors will be permitted. No exchanges will be allowed. The visitors will have to remain with the patient.
No one with sickness will be allowed in the unit unless a patient.

Special Care Nursery

Only parents of the newborn will be allowed at the bedside.
No one with sickness will be allowed in the nursery.
Mother and father of the baby can visit at any time.

CCU/PCU Units

Both are closed to visitors until further notice.

Safety protocols put in place regarding care include, but are not limited to:

All individuals entering Henry County Medical Center facilities, including partners and providers, will continue to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms including temperature checks daily.
All individuals entering Henry County Medical Center will be asked to wear a mask. Patients and visitors are asked to bring their own masks.
Six-foot social distances will continue in public areas such as waiting rooms.
Extra cleaning and disinfection of high-touch, public surface areas will continue.
Infectious patients will continue to be cared for in isolation, away from non-infectious patients.
Surveillance statistics of our community and regional area will be monitored for trends and stability.
Utilization of hospital beds, ventilators, and PPE will be monitored to ensure ability if there is a need.

In addition to safety protocols, Henry County Medical Center remains prepared to cease non-essential procedures in the event a surge or peak of COVID-19 develops in the area.

To remain prepared, HCMC will monitor its supplies and its ability to procure supplies. HCMC will also maintain established guidelines for occupancy availability. We will continually evaluate and monitor to ensure patient safety and surveillance needs. In addition, HCMC will collaborate with the medical staff and the TN Department of Health and the Henry County Health Department to continually evaluate incidences and trends of COVID-19 cases within Henry County and the surrounding area.

As schedules continue to change, HCMC will keep patients informed through our website, www.hcmc-tn.org and on our social media platforms. Additionally, HCMC continues to provide information on testing, hospitalizations, and deaths within our organization weekly. HCMC Administration continues to follow the CDC guidelines as well as the TN Department of Health guidelines to ensure the safety of our patients, families, partners, and community.

One of the best ways to prevent COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for ages 12 and up. Henry County Medical Center is providing two vaccination clinic opportunities in the near future. The first is Thursday, August 5 at Henry County High School at Meet the Patriots beginning at 5 p.m. Anyone 12 and older is eligible; however, parents must be present in order for children under 18 to receive the vaccine as well as bring identification. The second event will be held on Saturday, August 21 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Paris Pediatrics. Appointments are encouraged for these events by calling 731-336-6155 or emailing kwinston@hcmc-tn.org. Walk-ins are welcome. If you cannot make it to one of these events, vaccines are readily available at the local health department, as well as at most local pharmacies. Vaccination sites can also be found at www.vaccinefinder.org.

During the month of August, HCMC will be offering Pfizer vaccines at the hospital from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday. Appointments are encouraged for these events by calling 731-336-6155 or emailing kwinston@hcmc-tn.org. Walk-ins are welcome.

How you can help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19:

Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then discard in a trash.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your health care provider. To learn more, go to our website at www.hcmc-tn.org or go to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

You can also get a complete list of all our visitation policies on our website under our Coronovirus information pages.

Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Additionally, HCMC owns and operates 7 provider clinics in various specialties. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org