According to a press release, Good Samaritan has once again updated visitor restrictions based on local and national COVID-19 data. These new guidelines are for both inpatient and outpatient areas in the hospital, and physician practices.
Beginning July 17, 2020, the following visitation guidelines will be in place:
OB patients can have two support persons in the Labor and Delivery room. After delivery, the hospital encourages one visitor at a time for the remainder of the patient’s stay.
· Pediatric patients may have two visitors 24/7. Only parents and guardians are encouraged, but support persons are allowed when parents/guardians are absent.
· Visitation hours for all other inpatient areas are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
· All visitors must wear the name tag / arm band issued to them at the screening station.
· All visitors must wear a mask at all times and practice social distancing, even in patient rooms.
· Visitors must follow any isolation precautions in place.
· No visitors under 16 years of age without permission of Nursing Supervisor in consultation with Infection Prevention.
· Visitors must practice good hand hygiene by washing their hands and / or using hand sanitizer prior to entering the room and upon leaving.
· Visitors must limit traffic in the hospital and stay in patient room / area or exit the building.
· Visitors accompanying patients in Outpatient Infusion and Medical / Physician Practices must remain with the patient or waiting room and wear a mask.
· Inpatient Behavioral Health patients can have one designated visitor per stay Monday through Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Adults are encouraged to not bring children with them when the adult has an outpatient appointment, however, in cases where the patient has no childcare available the child may accompany the patient. The child will be screened for illness and must wear a mask.
Patients and visitors will still need to be screened before entering the hospital, provider offices and clinics. A detailed visitation policy can be found on Good Samaritan’s website at gshvin.org/coronavirus.
“There are a few visitation policies we have made, but probably the most important is allowing two visitors for patients who are in Labor and Delivery,” said Rob McLin, President and CEO. “Having a support system is important to expectant mothers who may want their significant other and their parent at their side during delivery. We are working to fulfill our patient’s needs, while also maintaining a safe environment throughout the organization.”
As always, hospital officials are still urging those in the community who have a respiratory illness to first call their primary care provider on the phone to receive guidance on appropriate care. Depending on severity of the illness, the patient may be given guidance on how to self-treat at home or in severe cases to seek emergency medical attention.
Respiratory patients are also encouraged to visit the Convenient Care Clinic located at 1813 Willow Street in Vincennes. All other health issues can be seen at the new, second Convenient Care Clinic location inside Williams Bros. Pharmacy at 1216 Washington Avenue in Vincennes.
Patients who may not feel comfortable visiting the hospital for medical care are encouraged to utilize Good Samaritan’s virtual health care options through My Health Live, which can be accessed by visiting gshvin.org/my-health-live. Patients can also call a 24/7 nurse triage hotline to discuss their symptoms; the phone number is 812-885-3331. If care is needed, the nurse will direct the patient on where to go and what to do. A symptom checker for coronavirus is also available through My Chart.
Information about the coronavirus and the hospital’s current restrictions can be found at gshvin.org/coronavirus
