COVID-19
St. Luke's Behavioral Health is taking additional, necessary preparations to ensure patients can receive compassionate care in a safe, carefully managed environment – with confidence and without fear.
Our Safe and Ready program consists of a rigorous five-point standard ensuring patient safety, confidence and convenience:
- Expanded hours will allow previously cancelled procedures to be scheduled as quickly as possible.
- Any COVID-19 related care takes place in designated areas away from other patients and their families.
- Emergency Departments are reorganized to be a safe place to treat all emergency patients.
- A stringent cleaning policy has been implemented throughout the hospital.
- A strictly controlled visitor and masking policy is required for patient safety.
You can rest assured that we have made the necessary preparations to care for you in a safe, controlled and professional way.
We’re here, and we’re ready to provide the care you need.
Visitor Restrictions In Effect Steward Wide
Beginning Tuesday, March 24, no visitors will be allowed. Exceptions may be provided on limited case-by-case basis.
Please help us to keep our communities safe.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Essential Visitor – An individual who is in a support role for a patient or who is legally responsible for making health care decisions on behalf of a patient. This may include family members, friends or another individual who is there to support the patient. The designation of support person is not intended to replace the term patient’s legal representative. If this person meets criteria for exclusion (fever, cough, shortness of breath and/or close contact with person with positive COVID -19 or recent travel to Level 3 country), he/she may not come to the hospital to visit. All communications will be by telephone. If video chat is available, please use instead of in person visits.
Everyone on Steward properties should have a mask on, including patients and visitors.
This new measure has been put in place for your protection, as well as the protection of patients and hospital staff.
We ask for your understanding and appreciate your cooperation in our commitment to keeping our community safe.
General Visitation:
- Entrances to the campus for all patients will be restricted to the following entrances only (all other entrances will be locked and available for egress from the facility only or be accessed by badge access for certain personnel)
- ER entrance – 24/7
- Outpatient entrance – 5:30 AM to 6 PM
- All essential visitors will be screened upon entrance for travel, new onset fever, cough, shortness of breath and recent close contact with person who tests positive for COVID -19
- Any visitor with new onset cough, shortness of breath and fever will be referred to their primary care physician for follow up care and treatment. Return when well.
- Any visitor with recent (14 days) travel history to a CDC/WHO designated high risk travel area and/or recent close contact with persons who tests positive for COVID 19 will be denied entry to the campus to reduce the risk of disease spread.
- For essential visitors who do not screen positive, visitation will be limited for all patients to one (1) adult (over age 18) per patient per day.
- For essential visitors who do not screen positive, patients in isolation for COVID -19 are restricted to one (1) visitor per day.
- Visitors of isolation patients will not be allowed to go to common areas (cafeteria, gift shop, etc.)
- Visitors of isolation patients will be required to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Visitors of isolation patients will be logged and tracked on entry to room.
- Any visitor of a positive COVID-19 patient will be reported to the Office of Public Health, see regulatory requirements for each state.
- For essential visitors who do not screen positive, one pediatric caregiver will be allowed to stay with the patient.
- For essential visitors who do not screen positive: Patients undergoing surgery/procedure may have a visitor prior to and after return from surgery and then adhere to visitation restrictions.
- Mothers arriving in labor will be allowed to have one support person accompany them as long as no travel, new onset cough, shortness of breath, new onset fever and/or close contact with someone who screens positive for COVID -19. When patient is transferred to postpartum, essential visitors must abide by the restrictions.
- For essential visitors who do not screen positive, ED patients will be allowed one (1) support person to remain throughout ED stay.
- Non-essential vendors or personnel will not be allowed entry starting immediately including product vendors and pharmaceutical reps. Essential vendors are those bringing necessary supplies for procedures and will be approved by calling the OR/Cath Lab Directors and/or through Purchasing.
What to do if you're sick
Stay home except to get medical care
- Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Do not leave, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
- Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you feel worse or you think it is an emergency.
- Avoid public transportation: Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
Social Distancing
- As much as possible, you should stay in a specific “sick room” and away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom, if available.
- Limit contact with pets & animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals, just like you would around other people.
- Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people with the virus limit contact with animals until more information is known.
Call Ahead before visiting your doctor
Call ahead: If you have a medical appointment, call your doctor’s office or emergency department, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients.
Monitor your symptoms
- Seek medical attention, but call first: Seek medical care right away if your illness is worsening (for example, if you have difficulty breathing).
- Call your doctor before going in: Before going to the doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them your symptoms. They will tell you what to do.
Steward Health Care