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Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White and St. David's HealthCare reinstate "no visitor" policy

By and Elizabeth Evans
Updated  June 23, 2020 10:42pm CDT
Coronavirus in Central Texas
FOX 7 Austin

Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White and St. David’s HealthCare reinstate “no visitor” policy

One caregiver 18 years or older will be allowed to accompany those patients, provided they pass the health-screening criteria upon entering the facility and wear a mask while inside.

AUSTIN, Texas - Three hospital systems in the Austin area will be reinstating a "no visitor" policy due to COVID-19.

Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White Health, and St. David's HealthCare will be reinstating the policy with a few exceptions for laboring and post-partum patients; patients with disabilities or impairments or who are elderly; patients in the neonatal ICU (NICU) and pediatric units; patients requiring surgery or other medical procedures; and patients requiring end-of-life care.

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One caregiver 18 years or older will be allowed to accompany those patients, provided they pass the health-screening criteria upon entering the facility and wear a mask while inside. Ascension Seton will be allowing visitors at Dell Children's Medical Center.

"While we understand the importance of having the support of loved ones during a hospital visit or stay, we must continue to prioritize the health and safety of our patients and caregivers during this unprecedented pandemic," a spokesperson for the three systems said. "We encourage support persons to use alternate methods of communication to stay in contact with loved ones, such as phone calls, video chats or texting."

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READ THE FULL STATEMENT FROM THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS BELOW:

The pandemic is an evolving situation. We continue to monitor the viral activity in the community, as well as the COVID-related hospitalizations across our healthcare systems, and we are adapting to the needs of our patients and to the healthcare demands of our community. 
 
In an effort to protect patients, physicians, staff, and the community as COVID-19 continues to spread within our community, Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White Health and St. David’s HealthCare are reinstating a ‘no visitor’ policy. Our priority is to reduce the transmission risk within our sites of care. Exceptions will be made for laboring and post-partum patients; patients with disabilities or impairments or who are elderly; patients in the neonatal ICU (NICU) and pediatric units; patients requiring surgery or other medical procedures; and patients requiring end-of-life care. One caregiver 18 years or older may accompany these patient populations; the visitor must pass our previously established health-screening criteria upon entrance into the facility and must wear a mask while in our facilities. Ascension Seton will continue to allow visitors at Dell Children's Medical Center.
 
While we understand the importance of having the support of loved ones during a hospital visit or stay, we must continue to prioritize the health and safety of our patients and caregivers during this unprecedented pandemic. We encourage support persons to use alternate methods of communication to stay in contact with loved ones, such as phone calls, video chats or texting. 

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