Patients & Visitors
Merit Health Natchez is adopting more restrictive visitation guidelines as our community is experiencing an increase of COVID-19 cases. We recognize visitors are an important part of a patient's experience. At this time, however, with the increase in cases in our area, we believe the decision is in the best interest of our patients and staff. As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to offer and assist patients with virtual visitations options. For the protection of our patients and care-giving teams, effective Thursday, December 10, 2020, the following guidelines and restrictions will be in place. We appreciate the community's cooperation and understanding.
- Visitors must pass our screening process, including temperature checks.
- Visitors must have their own masks to enter the hospital and wear the mask the entire time.
- All visitors are encouraged to remain in the patient’s room at all times.
- All visitors must be 18 years or older.
- Visitors arriving after 3:30 p.m. Monday—Friday and Saturday and Sunday must enter through the emergency department entrance.
Visitation hours for fourth and fifth Floors are 3 p.m. — 7 p.m. Monday—Sunday
- Patients are limited to one visitor per day, and this visitor cannot switch out with another visitor at any time during the day.
- Patients may have a support team member stay with them during the night if deemed necessary by the care team.
Visitation for ICU and step down patients is now permitted with these guidelines:
- ICU visitation hours are 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday—Sunday
- Step down visitation hours are 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Monday—Sunday (enter through the emergency entrance)
- Patients are limited to one visitor per day, and this visitor cannot switch out with another visitor at any time during the day.
No visitors allowed in the emergency department at this time. Exceptions include:
- The ED patient is a minor
- Patients determined by the care team to be at “end-of-life”
- Request by hospital staff for assistance with patient
OB Patients:
- Patients are limited to two visitors per day during the patient’s laboring stage.
- Once the patient transitions to Postpartum, they can have one visitor, and this visitor cannot switch out with another visitor at any time during the day.
Pediatric inpatients: Pediatric patients may have two visitors, and both must be parents, guardians or caregiver.
Patients having outpatient surgery: One visitor may remain with the patient the entire stay.
Patients going to medical imaging, lab and other routine procedures: Please have your friend, family member, or caregiver remain in the car unless they are absolutely needed to assist you.
Exceptions to all of the above: Exceptions will continue to include end-of-life and patients needing assistance with communication/behavioral care.
Cafeteria Information for our Visitors:
The cafeteria remains closed to the public, but visitors inside the hospital are welcome to utilize the cafeteria.
- Breakfast hours are 8 a.m. 10 p.m.
- Lunch hours are 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Visitors may walk in and order food. Expect a 10 – 12 minute wait, depending on volume.
- Visitors may also order and pay online and pick up their food in the cafeteria. The website to order online is www.Natchez.ecwid.com.
- The cafeteria only accepts debit or credit card payments, no cash accepted.
Scheduled Appointments
At this time, we are asking that patients have a scheduled appointment for any tests that have been ordered for them by their provider. If a patient has an order for a service at our hospital, and the provider or office staff did not make them an appointment, the patient can call our centralized scheduling department at (601) 443-2230 to schedule their service.
Below are the designated, zoned entrances for your safety.
Non-COVID-19 Care Zone
Front Door Entrance — Patients who are scheduled for services at our hospital and have no known symptoms of the virus will enter through the front entrance.
COVID-19 Caution Care Zone
Outside entrance by MRI — Our caution zone, where you will see a tent is located, will be used for scheduled patients who have an order by their provider for a COVID-19 test, as well as the entrance for scheduled patients who are having outpatient testing and either have been tested for COVID-19 and do not have their results back, or they are exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
Restricted Care Zone
Park in ED parking lot at top of ramp — Should we have any positive COVID-19 patients whose provider has ordered outpatient testing, we have a restricted zone located at a side entrance.
How to connect with your patient by telephone in patient’s room:
If you know the room number of the patient you are calling, please dial 601-443-2 + the room number. For example, if the room number is 314, dial 601-443-2314.
How to connect with your patient by telephone in patient’s Telemetry room:
Our telemetry rooms are Rooms 1 – 11. To call the patient’s room in Telemetry, dial 601-443-28 +the telemetry bed number. For example, if your bed number is a single digit, Telemetry 2, you would dial 601-443-2802. If your bed number is Telemetry 10, you would dial 601-443-2810.
As you can imagine, with our limitations with patient visiting in effect, family and friends are calling the hospital and asking to speak with someone at the nurses’ station to check on their loved one. We truly understand the need and desire to do this.
Our staff wants to give you the most up to date information on your loved one. Please help us by adhering to the following:
- A code, along with the patient’s name, is required in order for a staff member to be able to give you any information over the phone.
- If you do not have a code, please do not call the unit inquiring about your patient. No information will be given.
- It would help us tremendously if only one family member would call each morning and each afternoon to check on their loved one. This family member could then in turn contact others to give this update. This would help our staff focus on your loved one as well as the other patients being treated in our hospital.
If you do have a code and need to call, please use the following numbers to call in our units:
- 4North - dial (601) 443-2480
- 4South - dial (601) 443-2470
- 5th Floor – Rehab – dial (601) 443-2544
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) – dial (601) 443-2791
- Telemetry – dial (601) 443-2645
- Labor and Delivery, 3rd Floor – (601) 443-2384
- Post-Partum, 3rd Floor – dial (601) 443-2381
At Merit Health Natchez, we understand that coming to the hospital as a patient or as a loved one's support person can be a difficult, often overwhelming experience. Whether you’re preparing for a hospital stay or stopping by to see friends and family, knowing where to go and what to bring will help make your visit less stressful. To make your experience easier, we want to provide you with helpful information you may need to plan your visit, such as what to expect, parking instructions, transportation and more.