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Hospital Resumes Limited Visiting

  • Category: Updates
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Great River Medical Center has resumed limited visiting in most inpatient areas. In August, inpatient visiting was suspended in response to increasing cases of COVID-19 in the community.

Most inpatients may have one visitor per day between noon and 6 p.m. Visitors may not leave and return in the same day. Patients must give the name of their visitor to a member of their health care team before the visitor arrives.

Visitors must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Pass COVID-19 screening
  • Use the main entrance
  • Wear a mask at all times while in the building
  • Stay in the patient’s room or designated visitor area

Patients in these situations may not have visitors:

  • COVID-19 Unit
  • Under investigation for COVID-19
  •  Isolation precautions, except for restrictive and contact precautions

Area-Specific Information

Visiting times and restrictions vary in these areas:

  • Behavioral Health Unit – Visiting hours are 3 to 5 p.m.
  • End of life when death is imminent – Two visitors
  • Obstetrics Unit – One partner or birth support person
    • Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients – One birth parent plus one significant other
  • Pediatrics Unit/patients under 18 – One parent or guardian

Exceptions

Exceptions that require approval for visitation outside of visiting hours by the unit director include:

  • Family members may participate in care planning meetings when required.
  • Patients who have transitioned to comfort care.
  • Patients with disruptive behavior whose family member is key to their care may have one visitor overnight.
  • Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays who require a caregiver to help provide safety may have one visitor overnight.

Other special circumstances may be approved by the unit director.

Outpatient Areas and Clinics

  • Clinics (most) – Adult patients who require a caregiver and children under 18 may have one visitor.
    • Women's Health – One visitor for ultrasound appointments only
  • Cancer treatment – One visitor
  • Day Hospital – One visitor
  • Day Surgery– One visitor
  • Diagnostic Imaging – No visitors unless the patient is under 17 or needs assistance
  • Emergency Department – No visitors unless approved by staff based on the patient’s clinical condition
  • Heart & Vascular Center – One visitor
  • Laboratory testing – No visitors unless the patient is under 17 or needs assistance

Screening Process

All potential visitors and outpatients are screened before entering the hospital through these locations:

  • Main entrance – 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
  • Emergency Department entrance – 24 hours a day
  • Cancer Care Plaza – 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
  • Mercy Plaza – 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
  • Wellness Plaza – 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday (beginning Oct. 7); 7 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday

All other entrances are closed.

Everyone entering the hospital is asked about the presence of respiratory symptoms and recent travel, and their temperatures are taken. If potential visitors are positive in any area, they will not be allowed to visit.

Get Accurate Information

To get other accurate information, visit GreatRiverHealth.org or dial 211 to call the Iowa Department of Public Health.