The three major hospitals in the region — Mount Carmel Health, OhioHealth, and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center — made a joint-decision to resume visitation, officials said Friday. The three hospitals had implemented strict visitation policies in November due to the surge.
Some restrictions will remain in place: Only one visitor is permitted in most situations, and outpatients and COVID-19 patients cannot be accompanied by family at the hospitals except in end-of-life situations.
Several OhioHealth hospitals have already implemented the change and the rest will do so on Monday, officials said. Wexner’s policy takes effect on Feb. 23. Mount Carmel made the change on Friday.
Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association
On Thursday, the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, which represents 29 hospitals, announced that one visitor would be permitted for hospitalized patients, effective immediately. The association said COVID-19 visitor restrictions will be lifted entirely when Ohio is no longer under an official state of emergency order.
The policy stated that continued visitation is contingent on the availability of PPE, but the supply chain is not expected to face strain at this time.
Mercy Health, Statewide
Mercy Health hospitals in Ohio are permitting one visitor between the hours of 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pediatric patients can be accompanied by two parents or guardians. Visitors who record a temperature above 100 degrees during a health screening will not be able to visit. During the surge, Mercy Health had asked patients to only visit for certain exceptions like childbirth and end-of-life situations. Policies were relaxed on Jan. 20.
Cleveland Clinic, Northeast Ohio
Visitation restrictions remain in place in accordance with the hospital’s four-tier visitation level system. COVID-19-negative hospitalized patients are permitted one adult visitor, while pediatric patients can have two parents or guardians visit, except in the emergency department, where only one parent visitor is allowed.
Ohio remains in the health system’s “red” designation for COVID-19 spread, according to the Cleveland Clinic. If Ohio drops to the “orange,” non-hospitalized patients can be accompanied by visitors, and two parents can visit emergency department pediatric patients.
Genesis HealthCare System, Zanesville
Genesis Hospital updated its visitation policy on Friday. One visitor is now permitted per hospital inpatient between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., officials said. There are exceptions for additional visitors in some situations.
On Dec. 1, Genesis had implemented a policy in response to the surge restricting visitations with very limited exceptions. Visitation remains prohibited for COVID-19 positive patients and those in quarantine. In end-of-life situations for COVID-19 patients, the hospital will provide visitors with an N95 mask.
ProMedica, Northwest Ohio
The Toledo-based health system is allowing adult inpatients and emergency patients to have one visitor. Pediatric patients can have two visitors, but just one person is allowed in exam rooms at a time. For end of life situations, up to four visitors are permitted.
The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati
The hospital enacted a visitor restriction on Dec. 30 in response to the surge, and that policy remains in effect, officials said. Exceptions are in place allowing limited visitation for end-of-life patients, mothers delivering babies, and inpatients who are getting surgery.
MetroHealth, Cleveland
MetroHealth’s policy states “no inpatient visitation is permitted at this time” due to the spread of COVID-19, but there are “limited exceptions,” including situations where a physician or nurse manager determines visitation is permissible. The health system is encouraging virtual visits.
Summa Health, Akron
The hospital system revised its visitation policy three weeks ago, and Summa Health is currently permitting one adult visitor for most hospitalized patients. Like most other Ohio hospitals with one visitor policies, overnight visitation is not permitted for most patients.
Pediatric patients can have two visitors, and there are exceptions for more visitors in end-of-life situations.
University of Cincinnati Health, Southwest Ohio
The health center has been permitting one visitor under a policy that was unchanged through the surge. Visitation hours are limited to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for most patients. Emergency department visitation is allowed at all times, and intensive care unit visitation is restricted to two-hour time windows in the afternoon.
Seniors who may be at greater risk if they contract COVID-19 are encouraged to visit hospitalized loved ones virtually.
