Baptist Health Louisville suspends visitation at its hospitals, medical offices to safeguard patients, staff
LOUISVILLE, KY- March 23, 2020
Effective Tuesday, March 24, Baptist Health is suspending visitation at all of its hospitals, and allowing only essential caregivers to accompany patients for medical appointments or tests. There will be limited exceptions.
For the past two weeks, Baptist Health has been progressively restricting access to its hospitals and Baptist Health Medical Group offices to protect patients from the COVID-19 virus.
“This is a difficult but necessary step to help deal with this ever-changing situation,” said Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman. “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.”
At the hospitals, there will be limited exceptions, allowing one healthy visitor or companion for:
- Patients under age 18 (must be a parent or guardian)
- Women in labor (birthing partner)
- End-of-life patients (clergy)
- Hospice or end-of-life patients (visitor)
- Dependent patients who require assistance (caregiver)
Those allowed to visit or accompany a patient will be screened prior to visitation, which may include having a temperature taken. Only one visitor or companion for a patient may be in the hospital at one time. Four entrances have been designated for patients and approved visitors:
- Main entrance (Entrance A)
- Second floor pedway entrance from the parking garage (Entrance C)
- Emergency Department (Entrance E)
- 3900 building for Labor and Delivery
“We encourage everyone to use their personal electronic devices to use virtual means such as FaceTime or Skype to communicate with their loved ones in the hospital,” said Larry Gray, president of Baptist Health Louisville.
For Baptist Health Medical Group offices and outpatient facilities, a single essential caregiver will be allowed for:
- Child under age 18 (parent)
- Dependent adult who requires assistance (caregiver)
- End-of-life patient (determined on case-by-case basis)
Other recent measures taken by Baptist Health include postponement of elective surgeries and of certain diagnostic screening tests.
For the latest information on Baptist Health Louisville policies and response to COVID-19, visit BaptistHealth.com or follow Baptist Health Louisville on social media.
About Baptist Health Louisville
Formerly known as Baptist Hospital East, Baptist Health Louisville is a 519-bed hospital offering a wide range of healthcare services. Area residents benefit from the hospital’s emergency services, including special teams for heart attack and stroke care. The hospital’s cancer services include two freestanding Radiation Centers, the Charles and Mimi Osborn Cancer Center that includes a cancer resource center and a multidisciplinary lung care clinic. Special services include women’s health, offering all-private maternity rooms, digital mammography, ultrasound and bone-density scanning for osteoporosis. Other areas of expertise include orthopedics, neurosurgery, cardiovascular services, bariatric surgery, wound care, behavioral health, occupational health, and in-home care provided by Baptist Health Home Care. Baptist Health has a network of healthcare providers for patients in the Metro Louisville area – from Baptist Health Medical Group physician offices, to Baptist Urgent and Express Care locations. The hospital has achieved Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program® for the third time. In 2018 and 2019, the hospital was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as the #1 rated hospital in the metro Louisville area and ranked #3 in the state of Kentucky. Baptist Health Louisville is part of the eight-hospital Baptist Health system, headquartered in Louisville. Learn more at BaptistHealth.com/Louisville.