HSHS, Memorial change visitor policy
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SPRINGFIELD — As COVID-19 cases spike throughout Illinois due to the delta variant, hospitals within HSHS Illinois and Memorial Health System (MHS) will only allow one visitor in most situations – with some exceptions – beginning at 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13.
The decision was made as part of the hospitals’ ongoing efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and protect patients and health care professionals. Family members and other support persons will be able to call each hospital for assistance in checking on patients and should give nursing staff their contact information.
HSHS Illinois’ nine hospitals are St. John’s Hospital,
Springfield; St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur; St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon; St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham; St. Joseph’s Hospital, Breese; Holy Family Hospital, Greenville; Good Shepherd Hospital, Shelbyville’ St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield; and St. Joseph’s Hospital, Highland.
Memorial Health System’s five hospitals are Memorial Medical Center, Springfield; Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln; Decatur Memorial Hospital; Passavant Area Hospital, Jacksonville; and Taylorville Memorial Hospital.
The new guidelines for both hospital systems are as follows:
– At HSHS IL hospitals, vis- itors under the age of 18 continue to be prohibited, unless they are the parent of a child receiving care. Memorial Health System pro- hibits visitors who are 16 years old and younger unless they are the parent of a child receiving care.
– Emergency department: One visitor who must remain in the patient’s room for duration of visit. (No visitors will be allowed in the ED for adult patients at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon.)
– Inpatient adult: One visitor during the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. One overnight visitor permitted at MHS hospitals.
– Inpatient at end-of-life: Two visitors. Please call the appropriate hospital (see list below) for guidance in specif- ic situations.
– Inpatient obstetrics and maternity: Two support persons; one overnight visitor at MHS hospitals.
– Pediatrics, inpatient and outpatient: Two parents/guardians.
– Surgery/procedure, inpatient and outpatient: One visitor in the waiting area only for the duration of the surgical procedure.
– Outpatient services: Patients being provided out- patient services are encouraged to come alone whenever possible or have visitors wait outside until services are complete.
– Any patient with intellectual and/or developmental disability or cognitive impairments: One support person.
– No visitors are allowed for patients being treated or evaluated for COVID-19 until a COVID-19 infection is ruled out.
The two health systems will also continue the screening process for any- one entering their hospitals. People entering will have their temperature checked with a forehead scan ther- mometer and answer a brief set of questions. Medical- grade masks are required in all health care settings.
Individuals will not be allowed to enter if their tem- perature is above 100.4 F, if they display symptoms of acute respiratory illness, including coughing, short- ness of breath and sore throat, or if they refuse to wear a mask.
Family members and friends can call hospitals for assistance at the following numbers. Each hospital will also have limited access at designated entrances.
Decatur Memorial Hospital: 217-876-2003. Kirkland and Emergency entrances open.
Memorial Medical Center, Springfield: 217-788-3000. Main Lobby and Emergency entrances open.
Taylorville Memorial Hospital: 217-707-5555. Main Lobby, South Entrance and Emergency entrances open.
HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield: 217-544-6464. Main Lobby,
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur: 217-464-2966. Main Lobby and Emergency entrances open.
Both HSHS and MHS con- tinue to encourage the unvaccinated to seek more information about the vac- cines available to them. When ready, they can visit www.HSHS.org/vaccine or call 1-844-216-4707 for an HSHS vaccine clinic near them, or visit Vaccination.mhsil.com. If an HSHS or MHS vaccine clinic is not available in your area, contact your local
health department for vac- cine clinics and availability near you.
Both systems also encour- age you to continue mask- ing and using social dis- tancing strategies to slow the spread of the delta vari- ant, a more contagious strain of COVID-19.
