PeaceHealth Oregon eases hospital visitation restrictions

With COVID-19 transmission falling in Lane County, PeaceHealth will ease its temporary “no-visitor” policy at all four Oregon hospitals to allow one visitor per day, per patient, with some limited exceptions. For patients suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, the no-visitor policy remains, with limited exceptions.

This change is effective at 8 a.m. Monday, March 8, and applies only to our hospitals: PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend; PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center, University District; PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center; and PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center.

PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics will continue to limit visitors to only those accompanying patients needing assistance.

The change in hospital visitation aims to balance safety with patient, caregiver and visitor well-being and satisfaction. PeaceHealth will continue to diligently monitor the local prevalence of COVID-19 and will tighten these rules again if necessary, as the health and safety of our caregivers, patients and community remains our top priority.

While most patients will be allowed only one designated visitor per day, two may be allowed for patients at end-of-life as well as minors, including infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Patients with disabilities may be allowed up to three support persons.

Most hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 are not allowed visitors. Minors, Labor & Delivery and end-of-life patients may have one visitor.

Any exceptions to the policy will be made at the discretion of PeaceHealth clinical care leadership.

Also effective on March 8, PeaceHealth will no longer actively take the temperature of caregivers and visitors upon entry to any PeaceHealth Oregon facility, in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention infection prevention recommendations. However, anyone entering a PeaceHealth facility will still be asked to confirm that they do not have a fever or other common symptoms of COVID-19. There will still be thermometers available at screening stations for those who request a check.

Visitors must wear a mask at all times and will be asked to limit their movement throughout the hospitals. They will be issued a dated bracelet identifying them as a visitor. While they can purchase food in the cafeterias, they must return to eat in the room of the patient they are visiting. All gift shops will remain closed to visitors. Visitors will be instructed to clean their hands frequently, avoid touching surfaces and practice physical distancing by remaining at least six feet away from caregivers and others whenever possible.

With the virus still circulating in our community, we encourage everyone to remain vigilant about mask wearing, social distancing and limiting gatherings.

Visit peacehealth.org/coronavirus for more information about safety measures at PeaceHealth, as well as other education and prevention resources related to COVID-19. 

About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 900 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.