Hospitals throughout region restrict access out of concerns

Hospitals have enacted stricter visitation policies to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Here is a recap:

Alton Memorial Hospital

Alton Memorial Hospital suspended visitation effective Monday, March 23. AMH will allow visitation to resume when the threat posed by COVID-19 lessens.

There are a few exceptions, and those visitors will continue to enter through the Duncan Wing main entrance after being screened with questions, including who they are here to visit, and a temperature check. Each visitor will receive a badge with the date and room number. Any visitor without a visitor badge should be redirected to the Duncan Wing entrance to be rescreened.

The following exceptions are pre-approved for visitation, effective 6 p.m. March 23.

·         Obstetric patients may have two designated visitors at the same time (such as a partner or birth support person).

·         Patients who are critically ill or are at end-of-life may have two designated visitors at the same time.

·         Pediatric patients may have two designated visitors at the same time.

·         Patients with behavioral health, developmental delays or altered mental status for whom a family member or caregiver is integral to their care or safety may have one visitor at a time.

·         Adult and pediatric patients with an appointment in an outpatient setting, procedural area or in the Emergency Department may have one designated visitor.

Expectations for permitted visitors

·         Visitors must remain in the patient’s room for the duration of the visit; access to other areas in the hospital (i.e. cafeteria, waiting rooms) will be restricted.  Once the visitor leaves the patient room, they should exit the hospital.

·         Visitors shall not be permitted to be in the room during nasopharyngeal specimen collection or aerosol-generating procedures.

·         Visitors shall perform hand hygiene at point-of-wellness screening and upon entry/exit of the patient’s room.

·         All visitors shall notify the clinical care team if they develop signs or symptoms of illness during their visit.

 Memorial Hospital and Memorial Hospital East are no longer allowing visitors to the hospital and entrances have been restricted.

Memorial Hospital and Memorial Hospital East are working on ways to facilitate electronic communications for those who wish to utilize them including use of iPads and Skype to allow real-time updates and videos to family members.

The following exceptions to the “no visitor” policy are as follows:

– Obstetrical patients are allowed one support person throughout the stay.
– Hospice patients are allowed one support person.
– Pediatric inpatients under 18 are allowed two parents or guardians.
– Patients seeking emergency services are allowed one support person to stay in a designated waiting area.
– Surgery patients are allowed one support person to stay in a designated pre/post room.

HSHS Hospitals

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese and Highland and HSHS Holy Family Hospital Greenville are no longer allowing visitors into the hospital effective on March 21 at 6 a.m.

If you know someone in the hospital, you are encouraged to call their room for a telephone visit, use your cell phones to text, call or video chat with them.

Loved ones can be checked on by calling St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese at (618) 526-4511, Holy Family Hospital Greenville at (618) 664-1230 or St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland at (618) 651-2600. An operator will connect you to patients’ rooms after you provide some information.

Family and support persons should make sure to provide the nursing staff with their contact information.

The following exceptions to the “no visitor” policy are as follows:
•    Obstetrical patients are allowed one support person who needs to be the same throughout the stay.
•    Pediatric inpatients under the age of 18 are allowed one parent or guardian.
•    Patients seeking emergency services or those having surgery are allowed one support person who may not be under the age of 18 unless they are the parent.
•    Those reporting for outpatient services should ask their support person to wait in the car until they are alerted that the testing is complete.

Also, all three hospitals are taking additional safety precautions and conducting screenings at hospital entrances.

Dr. Robert Farmer, chief medical officer, shared, “We understand that this restriction of no visitors is extremely difficult, especially for those who have loved ones in the hospital with severe health issues. But along with many other hospitals across the nations, we are taking this step to keep our patients, staff and community as safe as possible.

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese and Highland and HSHS Holy Family Hospital Greenville thanks everyone for their understanding and assistance in keeping their patients, colleagues and community safe.

For more information you can visit our web sites: stjoebreese.com, hshsholyfamily.org. or stjosephshighland.org.

HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon is no longer allowing visitors to the hospital, effective immediately, and entrances have been restricted.

The only non-emergent patient entrance to the hospital is the Outpatient Entrance (under blue “Outpatient” sign).

Prior to last week, positive cases in our region were travel-related but now that community spread has been identified, these added restrictions are being put in place.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines community spread to be when people have been infected with the virus and they are not sure how or where they became infected. Travel-related infections are those traced to patients who had traveled to areas where the CDC has identified widespread and ongoing transmission of the virus or patients who had contact with someone who traveled to these areas.

Loved ones can be checked on by calling the hospital at (618) 234-2120. Family and support persons should make sure to provide the nursing staff with their contact information. In addition, St. Elizabeth’s is working on ways to facilitate electronic communications for those who wish to utilize them including use of iPads and the EASE app to allow real-time updates and videos to family members.

The following exceptions to the “no visitor” policy are as follows:

• Obstetrical patients are allowed one support person who needs to be the same throughout the stay.
• Hospice patients are allowed one support person.
• Pediatric inpatients under the age of 18 are allowed one parent or guardian.
• Patients seeking emergency services are allowed one support person to stay in a designated waiting area.
• Surgery patients are allowed one support person to stay in a designated pre/post room.
• For outpatient procedure patients, we encourage just the patient enter the building. If a support person is needed for wheelchair or mobility assistance one support person is allowed and will be directed to a designated waiting area.

Dr. Vinay Bhooma, chief medical officer, shared, “We understand that this restriction of no visitors is extremely difficult, especially for those who have loved ones in the hospital with severe health issues. But along with many other hospitals across the nation, these precautions are some of the many proactive measures St. Elizabeth’s and our entire health system are taking to ensure we keep our patients, staff and community as safe as possible.”

St. Elizabeth’s is also taking the additional safety precaution of screening each person who enters the building. Colleagues, physicians, patients and any of the above noted patient support exceptions will get their temperature taken and asked appropriate screening questions before proceeding to other areas of the hospital.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We have a very important job to do in protecting the vulnerable patients we are caring for and our communities. We also need to do everything we can to keep our strong and competent care providers as healthy as possible.

OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center, Alton

OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center has issued the following temporary visitor restrictions during continued widespread seasonal influenza activity and the global outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The following changes are effective immediately:

• All visitors are discouraged from visiting the hospital and medical group practices at this time.
• No more than one visitor per patient at a time will be allowed in the patient care areas.
• Exceptions may be made in certain situations that could include end-of-life care and childbirth.
• At this time, visitors allowed in OSF HealthCare facilities must be healthy. We strongly recommend you do not visit if you are experiencing signs or symptoms of an influenza-like illness.
  These include: a fever with cough, sore throat or other symptoms such as a runny nose, shortness of breath, chills and vomiting. If you show symptoms, you may be asked to leave.
• Some patient units, clinics, diagnostic service areas, and treatment areas, may already have additional restrictions to best protect our patients and the community.

The health risks from cold and flu remain high. Limiting visitors to our hospitalized patients will keep them safe while in our care. While the number of cases of the Novel Coronavirus
(COVID-19) are still being identified in our region and state, these restrictions will also serve as a preventative measure for the virus.

For more information on novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including frequently asked questions, please visit our COVID-19 digital hub: www.osfhealthcare.org/covid19/.

You can also use the COVID-19 Nurse Hotline, available 24/7 at (833) OSF.KNOW (833.673.5669).

Touchette Regional Hospital

CENTREVILLE — Under the current circumstances regarding COVID-19, Touchette Regional Hospital will be limiting visitors inside the hospital and at its Archview Medical Center, effective immediately. These restrictions are in place “until further notice” and are “subject to change as conditions change.”

Patients admitted to the hospital, Women & Newborns Center or outpatient surgery will be allowed one visitor. Visitors of end-of-life patients will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. There will be no visitors allowed for other outpatient services at the hospital, Archview Medical Center or in the emergency department. The medical staff will collect a phone number from the patient’s family and notify when a patient is ready to be picked up.

In addition, visitors will undergo a health and travel screening. Visitors who are exhibiting signs of illness (fever, cough, body aches) will not be permitted. All visitors will undergo the same travel screening as the patient. Visitors under the age of 18 will not be allowed.

“We are doing our part to protect the health and safety of our patients and the community at large,” said Marcus Smith, security manager at Touchette Regional Hospital. “It is important that as a community we follow the recommended guidelines and work together to protect those most vulnerable in our community. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation as we continue to navigate the situation and provide much needed care.”