After months of rigid, locked-down hospital facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic, Visalia-based Kaweah Health is loosening restrictions on visitors.
Tuesday, the hospital district modified its visitor rules to conform with California’s reopening rules and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.
The general rule of the new rules is that patients at Kaweah Health Medical Center may have two visitors at a time during the hospital’s visiting hours, the hospital said in a statement. Visitors must wear a mask in patient care areas.
Children aged 12 or older are able to visit if accompanied by an adult and following mask rules.
Here are specific rules for patient types:
- Acute Adult inpatient: Up to two visitors at a time during visitation hours (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
- Critical Care: Two visitors allowed (10a.m. – 5p.m., 7p.m. – 9p.m.)
- Maternal Child Health (Labor and Delivery and Mother Baby): Up to two visitors who can visit all hours
- Emergency Department: Two visitors allowed once patient has been taken to a room
- Surgery/Procedures/Cath Lab: Two visitors will be allowed to alternate for pre-op and post-op, but will still need to wait in vehicle during the surgery due to waiting area limitations.
- Endoscopy: one symptom-free visitor allowed post-operatively due to space limitations
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Up to two visitors with one able to stay overnight. Visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Pediatrics: Up to two visitors all hours with orange armband
- Rural health clinics and urgent care locations: One visitor allowed.
- Rehabilitation hospital – Two visitors, limited hours M-Sat 3p.m. – 5p.m., Sun 1p.m. – 4p.m.
- Cardiac Rehab on Akers Campus: no visitors
- Therapy Specialists, all locations: no visitors, unless they are doing family training or are needed to facilitate patient engagement in therapy
- Wound Center: allow one visitor, especially for family training
- Dialysis clinic: one visitor allowed in the lobby or in treatment rooms. While patient is receiving treatment, visitor must leave lobby due to limited seating. Visitors are not allowed in Hemodialysis Treatment Room due to size limitations and state guidelines for social distancing.
