Southwest Health System released notice this week that its facilities will return to implementing stricter visitor policies.
Starting Monday, all patients, except for those testing positive for COVID-19, will be allowed one screened, designated visitor, according to an SHS announcement Wednesday on Facebook.
Currently, there are less than five positive cases at the hospital, said Clifford Rivard, public information officer at SHS.
SHS did not make any alteration to its COVID-19 plan, he said.
However, he said that if Southwest Memorial Hospital reaches about five total admitted patients with the virus, more staff members will be called to support the COVID-19 unit.
Visiting hours will remain the same — noon to 8 p.m.
Visitors won’t be permitted to travel around the hospital solo — even to the cafeteria, he said.
Patients may enter only through the hospital’s main entrance, emergency room and medical office building.
Companions also will be required to enter and exit the building through the entrance nearest the service being administered, he said.
SHS reopened its drive-thru virus testing Wednesday.
“I know that, with the surge in our testing alone, going from somewhere around five tests a day to well over 40 — and I think we started this week, Monday and Tuesday alone, we did about 200 tests — that's why we kind of reopened up our our drive-thru testing,” Rivard said.
Drive-thru swabbing will be available Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, although tests will not be processed on Fridays.
It’s faster to access test results through the patient portal on SHS’ website, Rivard said.
Employees also will be required to self-check their temperature every day starting Monday, and they will wear stickers with their temperatures listed, he said.
“Just do our part to show that we're just being as cautious as possible,” said Rivard.
The Wednesday announcement informed the public that the hospital concierge will perform temperature checks and all visitors over the age of two must wear masks.
