As COVID-19 vaccination efforts continue across our county, state, and country, Logansport Memorial Hospital is re-evaluating our tight visitor restriction policies to slowly and safely begin reopening the hospital for visitation. Please keep in mind that this is a phased approach, where small steps are being taken to allow for more visitation that provides more comfort and convenience for our patients. As the fight against COVID-19 continues and changes every day, please be aware that these new restrictions may be changed again, based on what keeps our patients and staff as safe as possible while in our care and in our facility.
Updated restrictions
As of today (February 4), Logansport Memorial Hospital (LMH) is allowing one healthy support person as an approved visitor for almost all departments across the hospital. Certain exceptions do apply in departments like the Family Birth Center for the arrival of new babies, and on the Med/Surg and ICU floors, where patients may have an extended stay inside the hospital.
-- In the Family Birth Center, up to four grandparents (that are approved by the patient) will now be allowed to visit. Only one will be allowed to visit at a time, unless they are from the same household.
-- On the Med/Surg and ICU floors, up to two healthy support persons can be approved per patient. Only one will be allowed to stay with the patient at a time.
Continued screening
LMH will continue screening all visitors to determine if they are at-risk for COVID-19 or other communicable diseases. All visitors will be required to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and practice good hand hygiene. Temperatures will continue to be taken, and any symptomatic visitor will be asked to leave. All approved visitors must be age 18 or older.
Visiting hours
Visiting hours are restricted during this slow, phased approach to the house of 3 -- 5:30 pm. Visitors are expected to enter and be screened through the LMH Main Entrance during these designated visiting hours. If visiting during the designated hours on the weekends, visitors should plan to enter the hospital through the ER Entrance.
Approved visitors to the Med/Surg floor, ICU, COVID unit, and Family Birth Center should expect to wear a wristband that will help staff identify them as properly screened and cleared. When the patient and healthy support person enter the unit, staff will give the support person a wristband with the name of the department and the date of arrival on it. The support person will be instructed to leave the wristband on until the patient is discharged -- so if a patient is staying longer than one day, the support person should leave the wristband on for multiple days and wear it each time they come back for visitation, until the patient is going home.
Visitor restriction exceptions
Exceptions to visitation will be considered for end-of-life circumstances, and will be extended to clergy members on a daily basis. Clergy members are now allowed to be an additional visitor for any patient between the hours of 3 -- 5:30 pm, beyond the guidelines listed by Logansport Memorial Hospital. Clergy members will be required to follow the same guidelines of wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and following hand hygiene while in the facility. In circumstances where it's necessary, they will also be required to wear additional PPE and will be assisted by LMH staff to do so.
Thank you for your patience
During these uncertain times, we appreciate the flexibility and patience that we have been given by our patients, their families, and by individuals in the communities that we serve. We ask for your continued patience and cooperation as we strive to meet your healthcare needs and keep you safe in our care.
