Sterling, IL (May 15, 2017) At CGH Medical Center, the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors and staff is our highest priority. Dr. Paul Steinke, CEO said, “We are your community hospital, and it is our obligation to keep our patients, staff and visitors safe at all times. Due to our exponential growth over the years, and the increased violence and security incidents occurring nation-wide, CGH is implementing several new and important steps to help protect our facility. It is our top priority to keep our patients safe and secure during their stay with us.”
When a patient is recovering from an illness or injury, it is very important to have rest for a successful recuperation. It is also very important for caregivers to have proper rest to help care for their loved one. This is another one of the reasons CGH Medical Center will begin strongly enforcing our current visitor hours. Beginning June 1, no visitors will be allowed onto the floors after 8 p.m. without prior arrangements. All departments and patient units will be locked down from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and a video screening process will be in place for special entry to these departments after-hours. If you have a special circumstance that requires a pre-arranged to visit after 8 p.m., you will still enter and check in through the Emergency Department. If you wish to stay overnight with a family member, you will need to make advanced arrangements, and be settled into the patient’s room by 8 p.m. and until 6 a.m. CGH is happy to help make these accommodations for you, and encourages you to spend the night with your loved one if you wish to do so.
The new visitor rules and electronic locks to control access to our patient care units enhance the current security measures that are already in place at CGH. These include, uniformed security officers, comprehensive video surveillance in public areas, staff education and training on policy enforcement. For areas that are locked down at 8 p.m., there will be new video intercoms in place at the unit entrances. All of the security measures at CGH will not only protect our patients and aid in their recovery process, but will also protect our staff and visitors by minimizing disruptions of people coming and going throughout the night.
We appreciate the understanding and support of our communities. Together, we can create a safe and secure environment to allow our patients to better rest and heal, and allow us to continue to deliver top quality care while in our hospital. Thank you for your cooperation and support!