In the wake of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals throughout the New Orleans area have released information regarding increased visitor guidelines, parameters for screening, and precautions to take in avoiding getting the coronavirus.
The following information was published on the LCMC Health website:
“In order to ensure your health and prevent community spread of COVID-19, the Louisiana Department of Health is requiring all healthcare facilities to incorporate a visitor restriction policy as well as requiring all visitors to take a safety screening while visiting one of our facilities. Part of the safety screening will involve a temperature check.
“Until further notice, visitor restrictions will remain in conjunction with the guidelines presented by the Louisiana Department of Health, which shall include that all permitted visitors will wear a mask while in the facility.
“This applies to all LCMC Health facilities including our five hospitals - Children's Hospital New Orleans, New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, and West Jefferson Medical Center - and our outpatient facilities and clinics.”
“For more information on understanding the individual cases where visitors are deemed essential as part of the patient’s care and therefore will be permitted, visit the LCMC Health website at https://www.lcmchealth.org/coronavirus/”
Regarding its visitor policy, Ochsner Health’s website states the following:
“For the safety of our patients, your loved ones, our employees and our community, we are following the State of Louisiana Office of Public Health requirement to limit potential exposure to patients.
“We currently have a zero visitor policy with limited exceptions defined by the state. Only under the conditions below are visitors allowed to see patients and then only one visitor is allowed at one time.
“Conditions:
-Non-essential visitors are prohibited at all hospitals except for end of life care
-If the non-essential visitor meets the definition of Limited Person, they can enter for end of life care as long as they wear a surgical mask.
“Hospitals can define who is an Essential Visitor. Essential Visitors include:
-Laboring moms – spouse/partner
-Peds/NICU — parents/guardians
-ICU patients – spouse/significant other
-Infusion patients – spouse/adult caregiver
-End-of-life patients – spouse/significant other/adult children
Cardiovascular Institute of the South published the following information on its website:
“Before coming in for an appointment, please alert us if:
-You are currently experiencing respiratory or flu-like symptoms
-You have been in close contact with someone who has these symptoms
-You have traveled out of the country or been in close contact with someone who has
“If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and have an appointment to see a CIS physician, please call the clinic in advance of your visit for additional instructions.”
On St. Tammany Health System’s website, the following information was posted:
“The Louisiana Department of Health issued an order Thursday (March 12) restricting visitors to licensed healthcare facilities for the next 30 days amid the current COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. In keeping with that order, St. Tammany Health System is limiting visitation to essential caregivers only effective immediately.”
Drawing from the full order from the Louisiana Department of Health, the site goes on to outline, “However, any visitor that meets the definition of a restricted person cannot enter a facility. A restricted person is defined as someone who:
“Has signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat as assessed by the facility; in the last 14 days, has had contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, or is under investigation for COVID-19 or has been or is currently ill with respiratory illness; has been on international travel within the last 14 days to countries with sustained community transmission of COVID-19; or is residing in a community where community-based spread of COVID-19 is occurring.
“Facilities are required to provide alternative means of communication, including virtual visitations, and should consider assigning staff as primary contact for families and regular calls to keep families up to date.”
Thibodaux Regional Health System also implemented new visiting policy restrictions, stating the following on its website:
“In accordance with state guidelines, our visitor policy is temporarily modified. General visitation is suspended, and only visitors who are essential and vital to the patient’s care will be allowed to accompany them. All visitors will be screened before entering.”