Merit Health River Region implements revised visitor policy

From Merit Health River Region:

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this period of uncertainty together.

Based on the increasing incidence of COVID-19, effective Thursday, March 19, and until further notice, Merit Health River Region will implement a revised visitor policy for all hospital facilities (excluding hospital-based clinics) as follows:

• Adults: Adult patient visitors will not be permitted (with exceptions as outlined below)
• Pediatric patients: Visitation will permit two adult visitors, and both must be parents, guardians, or caregivers.
• Regardless, we encourage our patient families to consider remote visits using telephone or video chat.

The exceptions to this revised visitor policy include:

• OB patients may be accompanied by one partner and one birth support person.
• Adult patients who have been determined by the care team to be at the “end-of-life” may be visited by members of the immediate family.
• Patients receiving treatment in the Emergency Department may be accompanied by one visitor. The Emergency Department waiting room will be restricted to patients and their one respective visitor. All other guests will be kindly asked to vacate the premises.
• Every effort will be made to grant requests from a patient or family member for a visit from a chaplain, chaplain intern, Eucharistic minister, community clergy or other spiritual advisor.
• Other exceptions not listed above will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Building Access:

• All patients and visitors needing to enter a hospital facility, including for an appointment at a hospital-based clinic or procedural unit, will enter through one of the two available entrances:
• Main Front Entrance (6 a.m.-6 p.m.; locked after 6 p.m.)
• Emergency Department Entrance

Visitor Screening:

• All patients and visitors (those meeting exception criteria) will be screened at the two entrances listed above.
• Individuals who exhibit symptoms associated with respiratory illness (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath) or report they have recently visited an area identified as a location experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak will receive further evaluation to determine next steps.
• Visitors that meet any of the screening criteria will not be allowed to enter under any circumstances, unless they request ER care, at which point they will be escorted to the ER.

To Note:

• Visitors allowed entrance according to the revised policy, or according to one of the above-listed exceptions, must stay in the patients’ room or associated waiting room during the entirety of their visit until ready to leave the facility.
• Exceptions to this should be requested from and granted by the unit’s nursing staff.
• Approved visitors will not be able to re-enter the hospital after 6 p.m. and will have to wait until the following day (6 a.m.)