Baptist Health Paducah to allow one visitor for most patients
Baptist Health Paducah updates its visitor restrictions.
(Paducah, Ky.) June 3, 2020 — Baptist Health Paducah is modifying visitor restrictions to allow one visitor at a time for most patients, beginning Monday, May 18.
In March, the hospital began limiting visitation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and then suspended visitation last month in accordance with state recommendations. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has now eased those guidelines to allow for some visitation.
“We know our patients look forward to visits from their loved ones while they are in the hospital, and we want to facilitate that, while still taking appropriate precautions to protect our patients and staff,” said Chris Roty, Baptist Health Paducah president. “We appreciate the community’s continued understanding and cooperation.”
Visitor restrictions are part of the infection control measures taken by Baptist Health for the protection of patients and staff. Anyone who enters a Baptist Health facility must wear a mask at all times, and be subject to a COVID-19 screening, including having a temperature taken.
The hospital will allow one visitor for the following:
- Surgical patients.
- Inpatients (those admitted or currently in a hospital room): Visitation hours are 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
- Critical Care: One visitor may visit for a limited time, as determined by administration and the clinical house supervisor.
- Emergency Department: Patients are permitted one dedicated on-site patient support person. Patients must identify their support person, who will help them manage and communicate about their care. Visitors cannot swap out during the ED visit. COVID-19-suspected patients will not be allowed any visitors in the Emergency Department until testing is complete.
- Maternity Services: One spouse or partner may accompany the laboring mother to Labor & Delivery and the postpartum unit.
Exceptions will be made for the NICU, which will allow one or both parents, and end-of-life patients, who can receive one to two visitors with approval.
Visitors will not be allowed in the Ray & Kay Eckstein Regional Cancer Care Center, including infusion, radiation therapy and outpatient oncology clinics, based on the infection risk of oncology patients.
Visitors must:
- Wash their hands before and after a visit
- Wear a mask at all times
- Stay two hours or less when visiting a patient room
- Use the designated entrances and exits: Primary Entrance – Larry Barton Atrium, first floor, Medical Park 2, Emergency department and the Ray & Kay Eckstein Regional Cancer Care Center (patients only).
Those with fever, runny nose, body aches, or respiratory symptoms should not visit. Those under age 16 may not visit at this time.
Highly encouraged is communication with hospitalized loved ones by using personal communication devices to talk, text, or videoconference.
Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Medical Group, which includes medical offices and Baptist Health Urgent Care locations, will continue with its current restrictions. Patients are asked to come alone to appointments, wear a mask, and expect to be evaluated for COVID-19 in advance of their arrival.
A single companion is only allowed for:
- Patients under age 18
- Those who are physically dependent or vulnerable and require assistance
- Hospice or end-of-life patients
Baptist Health Virtual Care, which includes urgent care video visits, scheduled video appointments with your primary care or specialty provider, and e-visits comprised of an online symptom-specific questionnaire, may be options for care for those who don’t feel comfortable coming into a medical office. You must have a MyChart account, our secure, online patient portal, to access Virtual Care.
To sign up for MyChart, visit MyChart.BaptistHealth.com. For more information on Virtual Care, go to BaptistHealthVirtualCare.com.