COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) Preparedness at McLean

McLean Hospital and our Mass General Brigham affiliates have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak and working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and public health officials to ensure that our patients and their families, staff, and community stay safe.

We are dedicated to continuing to provide the highest-quality mental health care in the face of COVID-19. To do this safely, we have been implementing new policies and procedures. This includes developing a new visitor policy, increasing housekeeping services to ensure surfaces are cleaned and disinfected several times a day, incorporating the use of masks and other personal protective equipment when appropriate, and practicing physical distancing. Please note that these policies and procedures may be further updated as the situation changes.

Before You Come In: Updated Visitor Policy

To protect our patients, staff, and community, we have updated our visitor policy. Effective, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, we will no longer allow routine visitors/patient attendants into our facilities for the foreseeable future. We understand how important family and friends are to patient care, so there will be exceptions. If you would like to visit a patient, please call the patient’s program to discuss these exceptions before you head out the door.

As a reminder, all visitors must be over 18 years of age and healthy. Visitors in any clinical setting will be supplied with a procedural or surgical mask, which must be worn.

Visitors may be screened for flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, or sore throat. Visitors will also be encouraged to remain six feet away from patients at all times and wash or sanitize their hands before visiting a patient room.

Please read our full COVID-19 visitor policy.

COVID-19 Precaution Tips

It is important to take precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infections.

Here are some tips:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Clean your work and living areas with disinfectant regularly
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Keep your distance from others if you are sick
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throw the tissue away, and then wash or sanitize your hands
• If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve
• Avoid shaking hands, even in a business setting

Up-to-Date Information on COVID-19

Up-to-date information about COVID-19, including situation updates and travel guidance, can be found by visiting the following websites:

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization
• Johns Hopkins University’s real-time dashboard of confirmed cases
• U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Remember to Practice Self-Care

Worrying about catching an infectious disease, the coronavirus or otherwise, while taking care of your family, can be a stressful time. McLean’s Nathaniel Van Kirk, PhD, Kathryn D. Boger, PhD, ABPP, and Marni Chanoff, MD, share ways to keep you and your family feeling mentally balanced and safe in your household during an uncertain time. Read their 5 ways to reduce anxiety or the full article.

Learn more on our COVID-19 mental health resources page.

Information for McLean Patients and Their Families

You may find it helpful to visit our COVID-19 Resources for Patients page to find the latest information for updated patient policies and procedures.