NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WKBW) — Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center announced Monday adjustments to its visitation policy "to heighten protection in wake of coronavirus outbreak."
The new policy will remain in effect until further notice.
The changes include:
· Visiting hours on the medical units will now be from 12 noon to 6 p.m. daily.
· Patient visitation will limited to immediate family members/significant others who have been authorized by the patient.
· No more than two visitors at a time will allowed to visit a patient.
· Visitors under age 14 will not permitted.
The medical center says in addition to the above changes, no authorization will be granetd to:
· People who have visited Italy, South Korea, China, Japan or Iran within 14 days.
· People who have experienced shortness of breath, fever, runny or stuffy nose, vomiting, diarrhea or respiratory symptoms in the past three days.
· People who have been exposed to someone with influenza, respiratory virus, diarrhea or coronavirus (COVID-19) within 14 days.
“While we realize these changes may result in some inconvenience, it is incumbent upon us to utilize the utmost caution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and to protect our patients, staff and the community,” said Memorial Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer JoAnn Pellegrino.
All visitors will be asked to sign in at the first floor information desk as well the nurse's station on the unit they visit. Any visitors to the emergency department wil sign in at the registration desk in the ER1 waiting room.
