Blue Ridge HealthCare Visitation Guidelines

For everyone’s safety, Blue Ridge HealthCare has implemented the following policies which will go into affect 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1:

All visitors under the age of 18 and those who exhibit flu-like symptoms (fever, sore throat, cough, body aches) will be restricted from visiting patients at Grace and Valdese Hospitals to help prevent the spread of flu and other airborne illnesses. These guidelines may change over time as the situation changes, but are consistent with those being adopted by hospitals across the nation, and especially in the Southeast.

The main entrances to Grace and Valdese Hospitals will close at 7 p.m. All visitors will be directed to the Emergency Department entrance.

Hand sanitizer will be located at the entrances to the hospitals and at the elevators. Visitors are encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly and use the sanitizer before entering a patient’s room.

Exceptions to the policy change may be granted on a case-by-case basis, for example, to parents of newborns, visitors with very critically ill or injured loved ones or other special circumstances. Visitors granted exceptions will receive a visitor’s pass.

For more information, visit Carolinas HealthCare System's Stop the Flu program online.