Prisma to allow limited visits to patients

Prisma Health will offer limited visits for designated care partners beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1.

 

“Being with a loved one is, in itself, a healing therapy, and Prisma Health looks forward to offering expanded visitation for designated care partners next week,” said Scott Sasser, MD, a nationally recognized disaster preparedness expert who oversees Prisma Health’s COVID-19 response.

 

Out of caution, Prisma Health had limited visitation early in the pandemic in an effort to ensure patient, family and team member safety. But after a decline in community spread, Prisma Health has decided to offer additional limited visitation.

 

The expanded policy will allow additional visitation by a single designated care partner under the following limited circumstances:

·        Inpatients who are not suspected of or diagnosed with COVID-19

·        Emergency department patients once patients have been moved to a treatment area

·        Obstetric patients

·        Behavioral health patients

·        Clergy may be requested for patients without signs of COVID-19 as long as care is not disrupted

 

Most visitation will occur 2-6 p.m. daily, although the designated care partner for a patient being treated in the emergency department will have access 24-7. Care partners can leave and return to the facility once every 24 hours, except for care partners for patients in the emergency departments, who may leave the hospital and return once every 12 hours.

 

For behavioral health patients, visitation hours will be 6-7 p.m. daily but only by appointment.

 

Only one person can be identified as the designated care partner and will serve in that capacity over the entire duration of the patient’s hospitalization.

Pediatric and obstetric patients were already allowed one adult care partner. Likewise, patients undergoing procedures where anesthesia, moderate or deep sedation are performed – such as minor surgeries, colonoscopies and special radiology procedures – were also allowed to have a care partner wait in the waiting room.

 

Visitors still cannot visit patients who have COVID-19 or are suspected to have it, except for in end-of-life situations.

 

Each designated care partner will be screened as they enter a hospital and will be required to mask throughout the visit. If the visitor doesn’t have an appropriate mask, hospital staff will provide a disposable one. The designated visitor must remain in the patient room for the duration of the visit. They may not visit the cafeteria or food court, which will remain limited to staff.

 

Exceptions requiring approval by the attending doctor and an administrator include the following:

One care partner may remain with a patient who needs additional assistance, such as patients with special behavioral or physical needs
Up to three care partners, including those under 18, may visit with a patient in an end-of-life situation, with one who can stay at all times when death is imminent. In some cases, up to three care partners may also be allowed to visit patients with COVID-19 in end-of-life situations
Clergy visits for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 at the end of life
Practice settings also will offer expanded visitation in some situations:

One care partner is allowed for obstetric patients
One partner is allowed for oncology patients for doctor visits but may not accompany their loved one into infusion areas
One partner, such as parent or legal guardian, may accompany children to pediatric doctor appointments. Infants two months and younger may be accompanied by both parents
One partner is allowed for adults who need additional assistance, such as patients with special behavioral or physical needs
Care partners are not allowed to accompany a patient for laboratory or radiology services unless the patient needs extra help, such as a patient with special behavioral or physical needs.