Cheyenne’s hospital will soon implement a new photo identification policy for visitors to keep people from disobeying a rule limiting the number of people who visit patients.
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center will soon require all visitors to present a physical, government-issued photo identification at its screening desk before being allowed to enter the hospital. The new policy will be implemented on Sept. 20.
“Cheyenne Regional Medical Center is currently experiencing a tremendous spike in COVID-19 patients, and our community continues to be at high risk for the transmission of COVID,” hospital president and CEO Tim Thornell told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday. “Whereas many hospitals across the state and across the nation have reduced the number of visitors permitted per patient, we have elected to not make such a reduction and instead maintain the amount of visitors a patient may have. Adding a validation process requiring photo IDs for visitors helps ensure patients’ selected visitors are allowed access while appropriately controlling hospital access to ensure the safety of all patients and staff.”
The new requirement will allow hospital screeners to verify the identify of visitors and ensure that the hospital’s limit of two visitors per non-COVID patient is being followed.
“Due to the ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, several hospitals and health systems in our state and region are no longer allowing any visitors or are only allowing one designated visitor per non-COVID-19 patient,” the hospital said in a social media post. “Our goal is to keep CRMC’s current visitor policy in place while also ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients, employees and providers.”
Visitors who don’t have a photo ID and aren’t on the designated visitor list will not be allowed to enter the hospital.
This new policy received a mix of responses on social media, with some praising the hospital for making this move and others criticizing hospital officials for the decision.
“CRMC is a horrible hospital and this is the stupidest thing they have come up with,” commenter Rebecca Sue wrote. “I have had several family members there recently and the hospital does not do adequate care. 2 visitors the entire stay is ridiculous. Patients need their family and the lov[e] and support and to know they are not alone!!!!”
“Can you stop all of us????” commenter Justin Hawkins wrote.
“Thank you for keeping everyone safe in these difficult times. Better to be cautious than sorry,” commenter Diane Wolski wrote.
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center has had the most COVID patients in the state over the last couple of weeks, usually around 50 patients at one time, meaning its intensive care unit is near to capacity.
