Intermountain Healthcare Loosens Guidelines for Hospital Visitors
May 22, 2020, 5:39 PM | Updated: 8:53 pm
(KSL TV)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Visiting a loved one or friend will be easier moving forward at Intermountain Hospitals and clinics.
Intermountain said the new guidelines are currently in effect, and will continue to protect the safety of patients, employees and visitors from COVID-19.
“We recognize the comfort that visitors can bring to their loved ones during the healing and treatment process. We carefully balance that with the need to keep our patients, their loved ones, and caregivers safe and healthy during the current public health concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Shannon Phillips, MD, chief patient experience officer at Intermountain Healthcare.
Visitors will still be met with screening questions about symptoms and will need to get a temperature check before they can enter any facility, a news release said. Masks are required and visitors need to wash their hands and practice social distancing.
Intermountain encourages visitors to bring their own face mask or covering.
“We all have an important public health responsibility to adhere to the recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and state and local health departments to help protect our community from the spread of COVID-19. Following hospital and clinic visitor guidelines are an essential part of that effort,” said Mark Briesacher, MD, chief physician executive for Intermountain.
The release said, depending on the prevalence of COVID-19, some care areas like intensive care units may allow only one visitor or even none at all.
The release lays out lengthy and specific instructions online for people visiting COVIT-19 patients at Intermountain facilities and Primary Children’s Hospital.
Intermountain said texting, video chat and regular phone calls are encouraged to keep patients connected with family and friends. Healthcare workers can help individuals who do not have the needed devices for electronic communication.
These guidelines can change based on the spread of coronavirus.