Visitor restrictions

Bothwell relaxes visitor policy, masks still required

Beginning Wednesday, March 2, Bothwell Regional Health Center will relax its visitor restrictions in the hospital and clinics, return to pre-Covid-19 visiting hours in the hospital and still require universal masking. While the CDC has relaxed masking in indoor settings for communities, the guidance does not apply to health care settings where universal masking is still required.

There will be no restrictions on the number of visitors for Covid-negative patients in inpatient nursing units in the hospital and visiting hours will return to 8 am to 8 pm.

Visitors will continue to not be allowed for hospital patients who are Covid-19 positive or awaiting test results. Exceptions may be made for care purposes, end-of-life, special circumstances or patients who are children or who have disabilities.

The Emergency Department and Same-Day Surgery will allow one visitor at a time per patient at bedside due to space constraints. Cancer Center outpatients may have one support person at a time in the cancer infusion locations.

Women’s Health and Newborn Care has differing policies for its three units that include Labor and Delivery, postpartum rooms and NICU depending on a patient’s health status. In Labor and Delivery, Covid-negative patients may designate two birth support persons who are welcome at all times. Covid-positive patients may designate one birth support person who is welcome at all times. These designated individuals must remain the same throughout the labor and delivery process. Covid testing for birth support persons has been suspended.

Once Labor and Delivery patients have been transferred to postpartum rooms, Covid-negative patients may have unlimited visitors with a maximum of three people recommended in the room at one time. Covid-positive patients may have only their one designated birth support person that was present in Labor and Delivery. Only the mother and her primary designated support person are allowed in the NICU Nursery.

All visitors should enter the hospital through the main entrance. Upon entering the hospital, all visitors are required to wear a surgical-grade or higher mask or will be given a mask and asked to wear it throughout their visit per CDC recommendations for universal masking in health care settings. Visitors should practice good hand hygiene, social distancing and take precautions when in contact with others. People who feel ill or have virus-like symptoms should not visit patients in the hospital.

The hospital’s Southwest doors will remain closed except for Cardiac Rehab patients arriving for designated appointments.

Visitors may accompany outpatient clinic patients; however, patients and guests are still required to wear surgical-grade or higher masks when inside clinic buildings.

The Bothwell Cafeteria is only open to staff, volunteers and patient visitors.

Visit www.brhc.org/visitors for all details.