Visitor policies for the Samaritan Clinics campuses:

• Visitors may be asked to leave if the patient’s condition requires immediate attention.
• If the number of visitors in a patient’s room becomes unmanageable or poses a safety risk, the Nurse, Charge Nurse, or Point of Entry Manager may reasonably limit the number of persons in the room and encourage the use of nearby waiting rooms for additional visitors.
• Visitors who have experienced a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, skin rash, vomiting or diarrhea in the last 48 hours before a visit are discouraged from visiting until certain they will not expose the patient to more risk of disease.
• Visitors should be aware that Samaritan Healthcare is a “Tobacco Free” campus.
• Visitors with small children (12 and under) are expected to provide direct supervision of the children at all times.

The following clinic-specific policies apply:

Samaritan Pediatrics:

• All minors are allowed (2) support persons.
• Anyone needing physical or developmental assistance is allowed (2) support persons.

ICU, ED, and Med/Surg:

Two visitors are allowed at a time unless patient is COVID+ or has a COVID-like illness (CLI).

• COVID+ or CLI patients are not allowed visitors UNLESS they are at end of life, have  developmental or physical disability and have a caregiver at home, or are pediatric patient.  For these patients, they are allowed one visitor/attendant throughout the hospitalization and that person must wear assigned PPE.

Samaritan OB/GYN:

• Two healthy support persons allowed for the duration of their stay, unless the patient is COVID+.
• MBU COVID+ patient will be allowed one support person, who must remain the patient’s room throughout the duration of their stay.

Visitor policies for the Samaritan Hospital campus:

• Visitors may be asked to leave if the patient’s condition requires immediate attention.
• If the number of visitors in a patient’s room becomes unmanageable or poses a safety risk, the Nurse, Charge Nurse, or Point of Entry Manager may reasonably limit the number of persons in the room and encourage the use of nearby waiting rooms for additional visitors.
• Visitors who have experienced a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, skin rash, vomiting or diarrhea in the last 48 hours before a visit are discouraged from visiting until certain they will not expose the patient to more risk of disease.
• Visitors should be aware that Samaritan Healthcare is a “Tobacco Free” campus.
• Visitors with small children (12 and under) are expected to provide direct supervision of the children at all times.

The following unit-specific policies apply:

Emergency Department:

• All patients are allowed (2) support persons.
• Anyone needing physical or developmental assistance is allowed (2) support persons.
• Visitors may be allowed per nursing discretion.

Mother Baby Unit:

• Each patient will be given the opportunity to identify a primary support person who will be able to remain with the mother throughout the hospital stay.
• Children 12 years old and younger must be attended by an adult at all times.  For patient and visitor safety, children 5 years and younger will be permitted to have only short visits while the mother is in labor and delivery.  This will be up to the labor and delivery nurse’s discretion depending on the patient’s status.
• Mothers should protect the health of their newborns by making sure that all visitors wash their hands prior to holding the baby. Contact with children other than siblings should be discouraged. Family and friends should refrain from visiting if they have, or have recently had any possible infections that could be passed on to the baby – upper respiratory infections, stomach flu, and cold sores are particularly dangerous for infants. Masks will be available for visitors who request them.
• Siblings of the newborn are welcome to visit but must be accompanied by an adult.
• Mothers are encouraged to keep their infants with them at all times. If the infant is moved from the room to the nursery for a specific procedure, the mother or her designated support person may accompany the baby to the nursery if wearing the numbered identification band. Visitors who do not have a hospital identification band may not enter the nursery.

Surgery:

• Two support persons per surgical or procedural patient.

Med/Surg or ICU:

• All patients are allowed (2) support persons.
• Anyone needing physical or developmental assistance is allowed (2) support persons.
• Two visitors are allowed during time of discharge.
• Two visitors are allowed for patients who are at end-of-life.

Diagnostic Imaging:

• Adult patients are allowed (2) support persons.
• Anyone needing physical or developmental assistance is allowed (2) support persons.
• Pediatric patients are allowed (2) support persons.
• OB patients are allowed (2) support persons.

Please note, Samaritan Healthcare supports and recommends telecommunications for all chaplaincy or clergy support during the pandemic. However, for patients requesting in-person chaplain or clergy support, please contact the patient care unit director or designee.