Kentucky's two largest hospital enterprises have implemented no-visitor policies due to the outbreak of covid-19: the University of Kentucky and the eight Baptist Health hospitals across the state.
UK HealthCare's policy went into effect March 24 in both its hospitals and clinics and will stay in place until the threat of covid-19 transmission has "decreased significantly," says the news release. The policy makes several exceptions.
Exceptions for women in labor, children and babies include: obstetric patients may have one partner or one birth support person over the age of 16 with them; pediatric patients may have parents or guardians, no more than two, with them for as long as has been cleared by an attending physician; and nursery and neonatal intensive care unit patients can have one birth parent, accompanied by one significant other visitor, if cleared by an attending physician.
Exceptions for end-of-life patients, patients who need extra care, and those who are having surgery or a procedure include: patients who are at the end-of-life may have up to two visitors for the length of time cleared by the attending physician; patients with altered mental status, cognitive impairment, developmental delays or disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to their care, may have one visitor; patients requiring a trained home caregiver may have one visitor; and patients undergoing surgery or a procedure may have one visitor, and that visitor must leave the medical center soon after the procedure or surgery.
In addition, emergency department patients may be accompanied by one person; adult patients who need assistance with clinic, laboratory or radiology appointments may have one person with them and children with similar appointments may be accompanied by one parent or guardian.
Once a visitor leaves a patient's room, they must immediately leave the hospital. And any visitor who is ill or fails to pass a screening will not be able to enter a UK hospital, says UK;s news release.
No visitors will be allowed with patients under investigation for covid-19, or those who test positive for it, unless the patient is at the end of their life.
“These are extraordinary times and we ask for your cooperation and assistance in complying with these restrictions,” Dr. Mark Newman, University of Kentucky executive vice president for health affairs, said in the release. “The safety and well-being of our patients, employees and our community is our greatest concern and priority in making these decisions.”
Baptist Health's policy, which took effect March 24, also includes its physician offices and outpatient facilities. Its news release says it is "suspending visitation at all of its hospitals, and allowing only essential caregivers to accompany patients for medical appointments or tests."
Baptist Health hospitals will allow one healthy visitor or companion at a time for certain patients, including one parent or a guardian for patients under age 18; the birthing partner for women in labor; clergy for patients in the end-of-life; a visitor for hospice or end-of-life patients; and a caregiver for dependent patients who require assistance. All those who are allowed to visit at Baptist Health will be screened prior to the visit.
Baptist Health medical groups or outpatient facilities will allow a single caregiver for certain patients, including a parent for a child under age 18 and a caregiver for a dependent adult who requires assistance. Visitors for end-of-life patients will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
"Those with fever (above 100 degrees), runny nose, body aches or respiratory symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting in our facilities," says the release.
“This is a difficult but necessary step to help deal with this ever-changing situation,” Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman said in the release. “We apologize for the inconvenience to our patients and their loved ones, but we must keep patient and staff safety our top priority. With Baptist Health’s long-standing reputation of providing ‘treat-you-like-family’ care, you know your family members and friends are in good hands.”
Exceptions for women in labor, children and babies include: obstetric patients may have one partner or one birth support person over the age of 16 with them; pediatric patients may have parents or guardians, no more than two, with them for as long as has been cleared by an attending physician; and nursery and neonatal intensive care unit patients can have one birth parent, accompanied by one significant other visitor, if cleared by an attending physician.
Exceptions for end-of-life patients, patients who need extra care, and those who are having surgery or a procedure include: patients who are at the end-of-life may have up to two visitors for the length of time cleared by the attending physician; patients with altered mental status, cognitive impairment, developmental delays or disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to their care, may have one visitor; patients requiring a trained home caregiver may have one visitor; and patients undergoing surgery or a procedure may have one visitor, and that visitor must leave the medical center soon after the procedure or surgery.
In addition, emergency department patients may be accompanied by one person; adult patients who need assistance with clinic, laboratory or radiology appointments may have one person with them and children with similar appointments may be accompanied by one parent or guardian.
Once a visitor leaves a patient's room, they must immediately leave the hospital. And any visitor who is ill or fails to pass a screening will not be able to enter a UK hospital, says UK;s news release.
No visitors will be allowed with patients under investigation for covid-19, or those who test positive for it, unless the patient is at the end of their life.
“These are extraordinary times and we ask for your cooperation and assistance in complying with these restrictions,” Dr. Mark Newman, University of Kentucky executive vice president for health affairs, said in the release. “The safety and well-being of our patients, employees and our community is our greatest concern and priority in making these decisions.”
Baptist Health hospitals will allow one healthy visitor or companion at a time for certain patients, including one parent or a guardian for patients under age 18; the birthing partner for women in labor; clergy for patients in the end-of-life; a visitor for hospice or end-of-life patients; and a caregiver for dependent patients who require assistance. All those who are allowed to visit at Baptist Health will be screened prior to the visit.
Baptist Health medical groups or outpatient facilities will allow a single caregiver for certain patients, including a parent for a child under age 18 and a caregiver for a dependent adult who requires assistance. Visitors for end-of-life patients will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
"Those with fever (above 100 degrees), runny nose, body aches or respiratory symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting in our facilities," says the release.
“This is a difficult but necessary step to help deal with this ever-changing situation,” Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman said in the release. “We apologize for the inconvenience to our patients and their loved ones, but we must keep patient and staff safety our top priority. With Baptist Health’s long-standing reputation of providing ‘treat-you-like-family’ care, you know your family members and friends are in good hands.”
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