St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City is easing some visitor restrictions after a sustained decrease in COVID-19 admissions.
"We continue to see a decline in the number of hospitalizations due to the virus," said Mike Baumgartner, regional president of SSM Health in Mid-Missouri, said in a Friday news release. "We feel comfortable further relaxing the visitor policies. We want to thank the community for their efforts to adhere to the safety guidance and we encourage everyone to continue those efforts and get the vaccine when you are eligible and it is available to you."
The following visitor guidelines are now in place at the hospital at 2505 Mission Drive:
- Non-COVID-19 patients, including pediatric patients, may have two support people per day, over age 16, during designated hours. One support person may stay overnight.
- COVID-19-positive patients are allowed one support person with nursing leadership approval.
- Family Birth Center patients are allowed two support people for the duration of the stay. After delivery, siblings of the newborn will be allowed during visiting hours.
- Patients going to the hospital for imaging studies or other diagnostic testing will be allowed one support person. This also applies to behavioral health patients and clinic patients.
Exceptions may be made for end-of-life situations.
The changes are effective immediately.
Support people must enter through the hospital's outpatient entrance between 5 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the weekend.
Additionally, the following guidelines are in place:
- Masks or face coverings are required at all times. Visitors are expected to bring their own masks.
- All entrants are subject to screening, including a temperature check, before entering.
- Visitors should stay in the patient room or designated waiting area.
- Visitors must follow hand hygiene and social-distancing guidelines.
- All visitors, with the exception of those in the Family Birth Center, will be asked to leave by 7 p.m.
St. Mary's Hospital's full visitor policy is available at ssmhealth.com/locations/st-marys-hospital-jefferson-city.
Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City similarly eased its visitor policy in mid-February, allowing two visitors per patient except in the Intensive Care Unit, COVID-19 units and emergency department.
For CRMC's entire visitation policy, visit crmc.org/visitors.