Mercy Health, Salem Regional resume hospital visits, update restrictions

For the first time in about three months, visitors are once again allowed at Mercy Health hospital and Salem Regional Medical Center, but with specific limitations, according to news releases from the health care providers.

Neither has permitted visitors since mid-March, when restrictions were put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mercy Health

Effective immediately, visitation hours will resume at St. Elizabeth hospitals in Youngstown and Boardman as well as St. Joseph Warren Hospital, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Patients in those hospitals or emergency departments are each permitted only one visitor per day. Special exceptions will be made for end-of-life situations "and other extenuating circumstances," according to the release.

Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are suspected of having it will not be permitted visitors.

Patients in the behavioral health unit are also not permitted visitors.

Patients in the labor and delivery department may continue to have one visitor per day.

Those wishing to visit a patient in the intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit or the Select Specialty Hospital unit are asked to call ahead to verify visiting hours or additional restrictions.

All visitors must be 15 years or older and must wear masks inside the hospital. If they don't have their own, the hospital will provide one.

Visitors must also pass screenings and not exhibit flu-like symptoms such as: a fever of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit; cough; shortness of breath; chills; muscle pain; and sore throat. Those with any of those symptoms will not be permitted to visit.

"As always, we ask anyone who may be experiencing symptoms of illness refrain from visiting until you are feeling better," reads the release. "Mercy Health Youngstown will continue to provide support and assistance in connecting those unable to visit their loved ones virtually using platforms such as Skype or FaceTime."

Salem Regional Medical Center

The hospital on Wednesday also announced expanded visitation is now in place and some COVID-19 restrictions have been loosened.

Starting Thursday, the hospital will allow one healthy visitor or "support person" aged 18 or older to visit hospitalized patients or accompany patients who are seeking emergency or outpatient care.

Patients receiving care for COVID-19 will not be permitted to receive visitors, though exceptions will be made for end-of-life care or for those "who are essential to the well-being and care of the patient."

Those visitors will be required to wear a face covering — which will be provided by the hospital if necessary — and will also be screened for symptoms. They'll be allowed in "almost all areas of the hospital," according to a news release.

"As we gradually and safely reopen our hospital, it's important to take steps to ease the restrictions originally designed to deal with the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic," CEO Dr. Anita Hackstedde said in the release.

"We understand that visits and support from family and friends are an important part of the healing process. Expanded visitation enables more people to visit or accompany their loved ones and can be very beneficial for our patients' well-being."

Visitation hours for inpatient areas will be from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. No overnight visitors will be permitted.

There are three designated entrances for visitors: the emergency department; parking deck garage; and bridge walkway over State Street.

Salem Regional will continue to offer "Virtual Visitor" video chat services via tablets. Those who want to connect with patients can make arrangements in advance by calling the nurses' station on that patient's floor: Tower 1, 330-332-7105; Tower 2, 330-332-7714; Tower 3, 330-332-7369.

To use the service, virtual visitors will need a smartphone or tablet or a computer with a camera and the ability to download and install Google Duo. Instructions can be found here. The patient will call their virtual visitor using a hospital tablet.

This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 4:30 AM with the headline "Mercy Health, Salem Regional resume hospital visits, update restrictions."