Merit Health Natchez Latest Updates to Visitation Guidelines

6/8/2020

Health and Safety of our Patients and Employees Remain our Top Priority

NATCHEZ, Miss. – June 8, 2020 — Effective today, Merit Health Natchez is announcing new guidelines for hospital visitation. “Throughout the pandemic, the health and safety of our patients and employees continues to be our top priority,” said Lance Boyd, CEO of Merit Health Natchez. “As we continue to monitor patient access and flow, adhere to our strict safety measures in place, as well as follow guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Mississippi Department of Health, we feel comfortable issuing these new guidelines to help our patients and families stay connected.”

These are the new guidelines in effect:

• Visitation Hours will be in effect and strictly enforced between the hours of 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.
• Visitors must be 16 years of age or older.
• Patients are limited to one visitor per day, and the visitor must remain in the patient’s room at all times.
• These new visitation guidelines are for patients in the following units: 2North (outpatient surgery), 4th floor (medical/surgical), and 5th floor (inpatient rehabilitation unit)

The following guidelines have not changed and are still in effect for OB, ED and COVID-19 patients:

• Emergency department patients may have one visitor accompany them into the ED, and the visitor must remain in the patient’s room at all times.
• OB patients may have one visitor throughout their stay in labor and delivery.
• Pediatric patients may have two visitors, and both must be parents, guardians or a caregiver.
• Exceptions will continue to include end-of-life and patients needing assistance with communication/behavioral care.
• Visitation will remain closed for our COVID-19 patients and patients suspected of COVID-19. If you would like to drop off a card, gift or message of encouragement, we are happy to deliver those to patients. You may also call a patient’s room or visit patients using Facetime or another video communication app.

As always, visitors must pass our screening process including a temperature check and questions regarding symptoms and risk factors before being allowed to enter. They must also bring their own mask and wear it at all times while in the hospital.

The front entrance of the hospital will remain open Monday – Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Please visit the COVID-19 information page for details on how we are keeping our patients, visitors and employees safe.

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