Pre-Pandemic Visitor Policies Re-Instated
NOTE: THIS POST WAS UPDATED MARCH 17, 2022 TO PROVIDE CLARITY REGARDING THE BEDIAKO BIRTHING CENTER VISITOR POLICY
HILLSDALE, Mich.—Due to a sustained decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations, cases, community transmission and test positivity, Hillsdale Hospital is returning to full visitation according to its pre-pandemic visitor policy, with exceptions of the Bediako Birthing Center, Hillsdale Health & Wellness and McGuire & MacRitchie skilled nursing units.
“We are grateful that our community seeing much less COVID-19 going around,” Rachel Lott, director of marketing and development, said. “Even more encouraging is the fact that there are far fewer hospitalizations than we have seen in months, so it’s time to open our facilities back up to visitors. It is important for patients to have the support and companionship of their loved ones in a healthcare setting, so we are excited to see that again.”
The hospital’s pre-COVID-19 visitation policy allowed up to two visitors per patient (except for those in isolation) during visiting hours for most areas of the main hospital campus. This policy is once again in place, effectively immediately. There are no limits to how often visitors can swap out with others or how many different individuals can swap out in a 24-hour period. Patients in isolation (typically for flu, COVID-19, etc.) are not permitted visitors regardless of condition, until they meet the clinical criteria to be removed from isolation.
Due to seasonal increases in respiratory illness like flu and RSV, Hillsdale Hospital limits visitation to the Bediako Birthing Center almost every year for a period of time. That remains in place at this time despite the COVID-19 case decreases. Effective immediately, laboring mothers are permitted two adult support persons for the duration of their stay (labor, delivery and post-partum). Up to two healthy grandparents may also visit during the hours of 8 am to 8 pm.
Patients at Hillsdale Health & Wellness will continue to be permitted only one visitor due to limited space in the waiting room.
McGuire short-stay rehab and MacRitchie long-term care visitor restrictions are based on CMS regulations specific to skilled nursing facilities and can change weekly. Visitors are asked to call the unit to confirm that latest visitation permissions before coming in.
“These changes also mean that our gift shop is once again open to the public, and we are excited to welcome them back in,” Lott said.
See below for visitation guidelines across all the hospital’s service areas and locations.
VISITATION GUIDELINES
- Emergency Room: Up to two visitors per patient at a time.
- McGuire & MacRitchie (Skilled Nursing Facility): Call for current guidelines.
- Medical/Surgical/Critical Care Unit: Up to two visitors per patient at a time during visiting hours of 8 am-8 pm.
- Behavioral Health Unit: Up to two visitors per patient permitted only from 6-7:30 pm Monday through Friday or 3-5 pm Saturday, Sunday and on holidays.
- Birthing Center (OB): Laboring mothers are permitted two adult support persons for the duration of their stay (labor, delivery and post-partum). Up to two healthy grandparents at a time may also visit during the hours of 8 am to 8 pm.
- Surgery: Up to two visitors per patient.
- All Other Outpatient Services (Main Hospital Campus): Up to two visitors per patient.
- Hillsdale Health & Wellness: One visitor per patient.
- All Other Outpatient Clinics & Locations: No visitor restrictions.
The hospital and all of its locations and clinics will continue to screen all patients and permitted visitors. The main hospital campus is transitioning to a self-screening process over the next few weeks.
Masks are still required in all Hillsdale Hospital facilities and locations, as the CDC’s new COVID-19 Community Levels recommendations that limit mask-wearing do not apply to healthcare settings. The only individuals who will be permitted without a mask are patients who are medically unable to wear them. Visitors who do not wear a mask, however, are not permitted entry.
For more information, visit www.hillsdalehospital.com/coronavirus.
