Two area health care systems announced Friday they were updating visitor guidelines.
MU Health Care is relaxing restrictions on hospital and clinic visitors, but masks will still be required.
Effective Monday, adult inpatients at University Hospital, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, Missouri Psychiatric Center, and Women’s and Children’s Hospital can have two designated visitors per day. However, no visitors will be permitted for adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 can have one parent or guardian visit.
Visiting hours will be offered 8 a.m.-6 p.m. each day at all facilities except Missouri Psychiatric Center, where the hours are 4-8 p.m. daily. The parents of pediatric patients can visit at any time.
All visitors must be at least 16 years old. Missouri Psychiatric Center visitors must be at least 18 years old. Zoom and FaceTime will continue to provide patient access to family and friends who cannot be present.
Emergency department patients, those undergoing same-day surgery and testing, and those attending clinic visits will also be allowed two visitors under the changes that take effect Monday.
For more details about the policies and information regarding COVID-19, visit muhealth.org/coronavirus.
Lake Regional Health System also updated its visitor polices Friday, saying all non-COVID patients may have up to two support people at a time — at the hospital and in their clinics. Lake Regional is asking that visitors limit their re-entries each day.
Masks are still required at the hospital in Osage Beach and all of their other facilities, regardless of a person’s vaccination status.
Patients and their visitors may expect the following at Lake Regional Hospital:
• Visiting hours remain 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Visitors must be 18 years or older. Exceptions may be made for children accompanying parents of pediatric patients.
• Visitors must stay in patient rooms/bays; they should not sit in hospital waiting rooms or common areas.
• Visitors of inpatients being tested or treated for COVID-19 and end-of-life situations will be managed on a case-by-case basis.
Complete visitor guidelines are available at lakeregional.com/visitors.