As the number of positive coronavirus cases continues to decline around the region, Baptist Health Deaconess in Madisonville has revised its visitation policy to allow additional visitation in some areas of the hospital.
In addition, hospital officials announced visitation hours have also been extended to 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., 7 days per week. They say visitors will enter through the emergency department after 6:00 p.m. when other entrances close for the night.
Visitors are required to continue to wear a mask inside any Baptist Health Deaconess facility at all times, unless instructed to remove it by a healthcare professional regardless of vaccination status, and are subject to COVID screening prior to entry.
Officials indicate no children under the age of 16 are permitted to visit at this time.
According to the policy, the following areas are now allowing two visitors per patient:
– Mother Baby/Labor & Delivery/NICU
– Medical/Surgical Unit patients but no visitors are allowed for COVID positive patients
– Baptist Health Medical Group physician practices and clinics
The following areas will allow one visitor per patient:
– Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation – only if there is a cognitive/physical need or if the patient is a minor
– Merle M. Mahr Cancer Center – for provider appointments only and the visitor must wear a hospital supplied mask
– Same-Day Surgery
– Emergency Department but no visitors are allowed in Split Flow area or with COVID suspect patients
– Critical Care Unit between the hours of 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. only. No visitors will be allowed for COVID positive patients
Hospital officials say no visitation is currently allowed on the Behavioral Health Unit unless requested by a psychiatrist.
In addition, they indicate exceptions may be made for NICU and end-of-life patients at the unit leader’s discretion.
Waiting rooms and lobbies at Baptist Health Deaconess remain closed.
