Enhanced, frequent and strict cleaning and facility procedures help ensure safe environments our patients and staff when they enter our buildings.

Our facility teams are putting in extra time, work and important measures to maximize cleanliness and minimize risk for our patients, visitors and staff. We have added new daily Environmental Services cleaning positions dedicated to public areas and nursing stations. Our enhanced cleaning procedures include:

  • Thorough cleaning and disinfecting in all areas, especially high-touch surfaces (door handles, handrails, wheelchairs, etc.) and common areas, every two hours or as often as needed throughout all our facilities.

  • UV light boxes to specific entrance locations for patients, visitors and caregivers to use advanced ultra-violet systems as an additional layer of disinfection for protection and safety for items such as cell phones and other small personal items.

  • Air scrubber units to clean the air after each COVID-suspected patient to make rooms safe for the next patient. 

  • Extended use of our Xenex LightStrike germ-zapping robots on inpatient nursing units. These units destroy germs, bacteria and other organisms using intense ultraviolet light before they pose a threat to patients and caregivers. The robots are incorporated as part of a room’s cleaning process and placed on both sides of the bed for five minutes each, and then in a patient’s restroom for another five minutes. Studies have shown a 50%-100% reduction in Cdiff, MRSA and SSI rates through use of the LightStrike robots. 

Taking Every Precaution

Enhanced cleaning, physical distancing and prepared caregivers and facilities = safe care.

Whether you are coming to Adena Health System for an appointment or for a longer stay, your safety is our highest priority. Now more than ever, our physicians, advance practice providers and caregivers are ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients and visitors. During this pandemic, Adena is strictly following all federal, state and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to enhance our safety measures to keep you and your loved ones safe during your visit. 

Patients who trust Adena with their care can be confident that our safety measures exceed the standard levels for the Healthcare industry. Recently, Adena earned an ‘A’ national safety rating from The Leapfrog Group for Spring 2020. Earning an ‘A’ grade for safety reinforces that we are operating at the highest standards for safety and quality. Adena Regional Medical Center was one of just 43 A-rated hospitals in Ohio. More than 2,600 U.S. hospitals are graded in the survey.

Additional Enhanced Facility Updates

  • We have mandated a universal mask policy requiring that every staff member, patient and visitor wear a mask (we will provide masks if you don’t have one) even if you are fully COVID-19 vaccinated. 

  • We have placed visual alerts (such as signs and posters) at entrances and in strategic places providing instruction on proper hand hygiene, respiratory illness education and protection and cough etiquette.

  • We have enacted visitor restrictions to limit people within hospitals and clinics, with very few exceptions. Learn more about our Visitor Restrictions.

  • We have implemented system-wide allowances for appropriate social distancing in all Adena facilities, which includes the re-engineering of common and waiting areas, placing barriers in places where six-foot spacing may not be possible. These spaces include areas such as:

    • Cafeterias

    • Elevators

    • Entrances and screening areas

    • Gift shops

    • Office waiting areas

    • Pedestrian hallways

    • Registration areas

    • Restrooms

    • Stairwells

  • We have closed areas that attract group gatherings to allow for social distancing.

  • We have started prior-day registration to minimize contact in our clinics, registration and waiting areas.

  • We are screening patients for symptoms prior to their scheduled appointments and procedures by telephone and online.

  • We use direct entry from check-in to exam room whenever possible.

  • We are serving patrons over the counter food items including condiments and drinks in our cafeterias and food services areas to limit touching of self-serve food items.

  • We have created areas to physically separate patients with respiratory symptoms.

  • We have opened a COVID-19 screening hotline, 740-542-SAFE (7233), to identify those suspected of being infected with Coronavirus.

  • We are increasing our focus towards having tobacco-free facilities at all our properties to provide a tobacco-free and smoke-free environment for all of our patients, visitors and caregivers.

  • We have removed toys, reading materials, or other communal objects.

Alternative Facility-Visit Care

  • We have curbside drive-up lab collection services for blood draws and allergy testing in Chillicothe, Greenfield, Jackson and Waverly allowing patient to receive routine blood work from the safety of their vehicle. 

  • We are offering Virtual Visits between patients and their provider using at-home technology to continue appointments via video or telephone limiting the risk of exposure.

  • We are also moving some services and procedures to our regional hospitals and facilities where there is lower patient traffic and risk.





Enhanced Cleaning and Facility Safety Procedures