Visiting hours
Some area hospitals begin to allow visitation of patients, with precautions
A number of Capital Region hospitals have begun to lift visitor restrictions while others are still holding off.
Some Capital Region hospitals have begun to lift visitor restrictions while others are holding off after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced last week that hospital visits could resume with certain precautions in place.
Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Health Partners, Ellis Medicine in Schenectady, Glens Falls Hospital and St. Mary’s Healthcare in Amsterdam have since loosened restrictions, allowing one visitor daily during a four-hour window in the afternoon and evening. A single visitor is also allowed during the intake and discharge process for patients undergoing same-day procedures.
Visitors must be 18 or older and undergo symptom and temperature checks upon arrival. Once inside, they must wear a mask and practice hand hygiene. Additional personal protective equipment may be required if the patient has a known or suspected infection such as COVID-19 that is easily spread.
“We understand the separation of patients and their loved ones during this unprecedented time has caused significant stress and anxiety, for both patients and for our colleagues,” said Michael Finegan, president of acute care for St. Peter’s. “We remain committed to ensuring a secure environment of care for all, and look forward to welcoming visitors back to our facilities in a responsible, safe manner.”
The loosened restrictions come more than three months after many hospitals imposed strict visitation rules to combat the spread of COVID-19 and two months after the state outright suspended most visits.
Compassionate exceptions were and still are allowed for patients near the end of life as well as for laboring mothers, sick and injured children, and individuals with developmental disabilities.
In May, as it became clear coronavirus cases had peaked statewide and were on the decline, Cuomo — noting the psychological distress many patients and loved ones felt as a result of the no-visitor policy — announced he was implementing a pilot program that would test out expanded visitations at 21 participating hospitals statewide. Albany Med was among those participants, and allowed a single visitor between the hours of 4 and 6 p.m. as long as they underwent symptom screening and temperature checks, wore PPE and stayed in the patient’s room for the entirety of the visit.
Last week, Cuomo announced the pilot had been successful and said hospitals could begin allowing visitors under similar precautions starting June 19.
In guidance issued to hospitals last week, the state Department of Health said the facilities must notify the department at least 48 hours before resuming visitation and submit a plan for communicating their new visitor policy to patients.
“Hospitals may decide when to initiate expanded visitation based on their current volume of COVID patients, staffing to screen visitors, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other resources,” the department wrote.
Still, not every hospital has decided to resume visitations right away.
Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville noted on its website that the expanded visitation is voluntary for hospitals, and said it has made the decision to delay opening up general visitation.