Franciscan Health hospitals in Dyer, Hammond and Munster adjust visitor restrictions as COVID-19 cases surge in the Region

With cases of COVID-19 growing in recent weeks, Franciscan Health is taking steps to limit potential spread of the virus with new visitor restrictions at its hospitals in Dyer, Hammond and Munster.

“We’re once again implementing visitor restrictions for safety purposes and to do our part as a healthcare provider in reducing the spread of the virus. We appreciate the community’s support and understanding of our efforts to create the safest possible environment for our patients, employees, and physicians,” said Sean Leahy, Chief Operating Officer at Franciscan Health Dyer/Hammond/Munster. “Our Leadership Team will continue to review the virus trends on a daily basis, and we will reinstitute visitation with fewer restrictions when it’s considered safe to do so.”

Adult visitors will be allowed under specific circumstances. The hospitals will continue screening all visitors to determine if they are at risk for COVID-19 or other communicable diseases. Those who do not pass screenings will not be permitted to enter the hospital. All visitors will be required to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and practice good hand hygiene.

The visitor restrictions that will take effect at 7PM on Friday, Oct. 23 are as follows:

1.      Inpatients and critical care inpatients: No visitors unless covered under other exception.

2.      Labor & Delivery: A laboring woman will be allowed one visitor, a spouse or partner during labor and delivery. In addition, a labor coach will be allowed.

3.      NICU: Mother and significant other will be allowed to visit child in NICU with daily screening for temperature and COVID-19 symptoms required. Additional visitors may be allowed in extraordinary and end-of-life situations provided proper social distancing and PPE usage are followed.

4.      Emergency Room: None unless covered under other exception. Victims of sexual assault have the right to have an advocate present.

5.      Outpatients/Ambulatory: None unless covered under other exception.

6.      Surgery: None unless covered under other exception.

7.      Non-COVID End-of-Life: One visitor will be allowed for the duration. A second visitor will be allowed on a rotating basis with no more than two visitors at a time.

8.      COVID End-of-Life: One visitor will be allowed to visit. The visitor must wear full PPE while in attendance.

9.      Minors & Non-Decisional Patients: One visitor will be allowed only for patients that do not have actual or legal decisional capacity. Those include persons under 18, persons with dementia, and persons whose condition precludes obtaining an accurate history or decision making.

10.   Clergy: The patient or their representative may request a member of the Franciscan Spiritual Care Department or outside (community) clergy to be present. Clergy must wear required PPE while in attendance.

11.   Franciscan St. Francis Center & Franciscan Journey Unit Adolescent Residential Units: A maximum of two, masked healthy adults may visit with a pre-scheduled appointment. Visitation will take place in the Frances Warde Auditorium.