Updated Rules for Visitors at Baptist Health Hospitals During the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated May 20, 2020

Effective Tuesday, March 24, Baptist Health implemented temporary hospital visitation regulations due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, suspending visitation at all of its hospitals, and allowing only essential caregivers to accompany patients for medical appointments or tests. Outside of limited exceptions, there will be no visitors allowed at Baptist Health hospitals.

As the Coronavirus outbreak expanded, Baptist Health began progressively restricting visitation access to its hospitals and Baptist Health Medical Group offices to protect patients from the COVID-19 virus.

“This is a difficult but necessary step to help deal with this ever-changing situation,” said Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman. “We apologize for the inconvenience to our patients and their loved ones, but we must keep patient and staff safety our top priority. With Baptist Health’s long-standing reputation of providing ‘treat-you-like-family’ care, you know your family members and friends are in good hands.”

Those allowed to visit or accompany a patient will be screened prior to visitation, which may include having their temperature taken. Only one visitor or companion for a patient may be in the hospital at one time.

Visitation Guidelines at Baptist Health Physician Offices

• Visitor restrictions will continue with the following exceptions: patients under age 18 (one parent); dependent patients who require assistance (one caregiver); and hospice or end-of-life patients (one caregiver advised, but to be determined by provider).
• All patients/visitors will be screened for symptoms prior to coming in for an in-person office visit — at time of scheduling, 24 hours in advance of visit via phone call, and at point of entry with the goal of keeping any patient with COVID-19 symptoms from coming to our ambulatory clinics in person
• All patients/visitors will need to be masked upon entry (preferably with your own mask, but if you do not have a mask, we will provide one).
• Non-traditional waiting options have been implemented, such as patients waiting in vehicles and being notified when staff is ready to room and/or ensuring proper social distancing in our waiting rooms.
• We will be seeing patients in-person only for non-emergent or non-urgent conditions – those who are ill with the following symptoms, specifically COVID-19 symptoms, will be referred to our telehealth services or specific Urgent Care sites:
  • Cough
  • Shortness of Air
  • Fever/Chills
  • Congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Recent/Sudden loss of smell or taste

Corbin Hospital Visitation Regulations

Access to the hospital will be restricted to designated entrances. At those points, screenings will include a temperature check and questions about travel history and previous contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Signs will be posted at entrances to direct patients and families.

If you have a procedure planned, please come at least 30 minutes early to allow for the screening process. The Outpatient Specialty Clinic Entrance will not be open on weekends.

Entrance open times:

• Main Entrance: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Outpatient Specialty Clinic: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Emergency Entrance: Emergency patients 24/7 Screening Process

If you are not showing symptoms of COVID-19 and have not been in direct contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 or traveled to an area with a widespread COVID-19 population, you will be allowed to enter and wait with your loved one.

If you are exhibiting signs of COVID-19 and have been in direct contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 or traveled to an area with widespread COVID-19 population, call your healthcare provider or the Kentucky COVID-19 hotline at 1.800.722.5725 for further instructions and do not enter the hospital unless experiencing shortness of breath or respiratory distress, or have a true emergency.

Please call ahead and notify our Emergency staff at 606.528.1212 if you have been directed to go to the Emergency Department by your healthcare provider or the Whitley County Health Department. These temporary rules and regulations for visitors are in place to help protect you, our staff and visitors from potentially spreading the virus.

Visiting hours are as follows:

• Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Sunday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Children younger than 16 are not allowed on campus for visitation until further notice.

Our valet parking service will be suspended during this time.

Floyd Hospital Rules and Regulations for Visitors

All entrances are closed except the Emergency Department and Main Entrance. The plan is in place to funnel all patients through a COVID-19 screening process.

Emergency patients are asked to enter the Emergency Department to be screened. All outpatients (including maternity patients) and applicable visitors are asked to go through the Main Entrance to be screened. If you have a procedure planned, please come at least 30 minutes early to allow for the screening process.

Entrance open times:

• Main Entrance: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Emergency Entrance: Emergency patients 24/7

A patient advocate will be assigned to help with your loved one’s needs if they are admitted to the hospital. 

La Grange Hospital Visitation Regulations

Baptist Health La Grange has implemented a Controlled Access Plan in which all patient/visitor entrances will be closed except the main entrance (front of the hospital) and the Emergency Department (ED) entrance, which will be for ED patients only. 

The plan has been put in place to funnel all visitors through a COVID-19 screening process before they are allowed access into the hospital. We are asking patients to arrive 30 minutes early for procedures due to the extra time it will take to screen them.

Entrance screening times:

• Main entrance
  • Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Emergency Department entrance
  • Emergency patients only, 24/7

The doors at the main entrance will lock at 6 p.m. each day. All visitors who plan to stay until the end of visiting hours, which is 9 p.m., must arrive at the hospital main entrance prior to 6 p.m. for screening. A transport team member will be available for patients/visitors in need of assistance getting to their destination.

Appointments
All appointments are operating on a normal schedule unless you have been notified directly by the department.

Lexington Hospital Visitation Regulations

Access to the hospital will be restricted to designated entrances. At those points, screenings will include a temperature check and questions about travel history and previous contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Signs will be posted at entrances to direct patients and families.

Children younger than 16 are not allowed on campus for visitation until further notice.

Louisville Hospital Visitation Policy and Procedures

Screening procedures are in place when patients and visitors arrive at the hospital.

Please use the following entrances: 

• For Main Hospital – use Entrance A or Entrance C from the second level of the parking garage.
• For Emergencies only use Entrance E. 
• Labor & Delivery – Medical Pavilion, 3900 Kresge Way (Building B)

Madisonville Hospital Visitation Regulations

Baptist Health Madisonville has implemented a Controlled Access Plan in which entrances will be limited to gain access to the hospital. The plan in place is to funnel all patients and visitors through a COVID-19 screening process prior to entry into the facility.

Please arrive early to allow for the screening process to be completed.

Entrance open times:

Heart & Vascular Center Lobby
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Merle M. Mahr Cancer Center Entrance
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. (Cancer patients only)

Emergency Entrance
Emergency patients 24/7

Same-Day Surgery Entrance
Monday- Friday, 6 a.m.- 5 p.m.

The Main Hospital Lobby Entrance will be closed until further notice.

Visitor Policy and Screening Procedures
If you are not showing symptoms of COVID-19 and have not been in direct contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 or traveled to an area with a widespread COVID-19 population, you will be allowed to enter and wait with your loved one. Stickers will be used to monitor visitor flow.

If you are exhibiting signs of COVID-19 and have been in direct contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 or traveled to an area with widespread COVID-19 population, we ask that you contact the Hopkins County Health Department or call your healthcare provider for further instructions and do not enter the hospital unless experiencing shortness of breath, respiratory distress, or have a true emergency.

Please call ahead and notify our Emergency staff at 270.825.5106 if you have been directed to go to the Emergency Department by your healthcare provider or the Hopkins County Health Department. This protocol is in place to help protect you, our staff and visitors from potentially spreading the virus.

We respectfully request that all outside food deliveries and floral deliveries also cease until further notice.

Paducah Hospital Visitor Policy and Procedures

Visitors must use the following entrances and will be screened upon entry.

Larry Barton Atrium – first floor
Emergency Department, Medical Park 3 – first floor
Ray & Kay Eckstein Regional Cancer Care Center

Visitors are not allowed to remain in any building of the hospital after leaving the patient’s room.

Richmond Hospital Restricted Visiting Hours

Children younger than 16 are not allowed on campus for visitation until further notice.

The Emergency Department entrance is open for patients who need emergent care.

All other patients and applicable visitors must enter through the South Entrance (entrance located next to Outpatient Registration) of the hospital.

The South Entrance will only be open during these times:

• Monday – Friday; 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday; 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

All other entrances will be closed until further notice.

Food Delivery Orders

Please meet delivery personnel, including Uber Eats, Door Dash, etc., in the lobby of the floor or building to limit any unnecessary exposure to illnesses.

Additional Guidance During Temporary Restricted Visiting Hours

These temporary restrictions may be difficult for patients and their loved ones, but Baptist Health is taking these necessary steps to protect patients and staff.

We encourage everyone to use their personal electronic devices to use virtual means such as FaceTime or Skype to communicate with their loved ones in the hospital.

When visiting, remember to wash your hands with soap and water when entering and leaving patient rooms.

Those with fever (above 100 degrees), runny nose, body aches or respiratory symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting in our facilities.

To learn more about transmission and prevention of coronavirus, visit the Baptist Health COVID-19 resource hub and please refer to C.D.C. guidelines.

These restrictions are subject to change per guidance of the state health department.