With the continued spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, and particularly the new Delta variant, Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) announced today that it is reverting to a limited-visitation policy as a protective measure to reduce the risk of spreading infection.
This visitor restriction is in accordance with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and other health authorities. GSHCS is encouraging patients and loved ones to communicate with phone and video calls whenever possible and staff is able to help with access if needed.
GSHCS is working closely with Umatilla County Public Health (UCo Health), the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and is following guidelines provided by the CDC as the county continues to experience a surge in cases and hospitalizations.
Effective immediately, limited visitation will be permitted at GSHCS for patients admitted (including Med/Surg, Critical Care Unit and Family Birth Center) with only the following exceptions:
- Two support persons may be allowed for children admitted to the hospital. Parent/guardians of children admitted may stay with the minor child 24/7. No infant/child under 5 years of age shall be left unattended in the patient’s room
- One support person may be allowed for patients receiving end-of-life or palliative care on a case-by-case basis or other special circumstances, as needed. Special circumstances may be determined by the nurse manager, nursing supervisor, or vice president of nursing. Special circumstances shall be communicated to patient financial aervices for access privileges and documented in the patient’s chart.
- Maternity patients may have one support person with them through labor, delivery and the initial postpartum recovery time. Additional precautions may apply for the care of newborns. In special cases involving surrogacy deliveries, the visitor limit may be expanded to three to allow for intended parents and patient’s support person.
- Patients may also qualify for additional support persons pursuant to policy, “Disabled Patients Right to Designate Support Persons.”
Effective immediately, one visitor/support person/escort is permitted for adult patients 18 and over and two escorts for minors (under 18) in the Emergency Department, Good Shepherd Medical Group Clinics and any outpatient services such as ambulatory Surgical Services, Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory, Speech Therapy, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and the like. Patients may also qualify for additional support persons pursuant to policy, “Disabled Patients Right to Designate Support Persons.”
For these limited exceptions, support persons must be 16 years or older, and be free of fever, cold or flu-like symptoms.
In addition to restricted visitation, access into the hospital and clinics is limited to specific doors. All staff, patients, visitors/escorts/support persons and vendors are screened upon entry for symptoms and exposure to COVID-19.
Locations for entering our facilities is limited to the following doors and hours:
- Emergency Room Entrance open 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Entrance A (GSMG Clinic) open Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Entrance C (Pharmacy Entrance) open Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Good Shepherd Medical Plaza Entrance open Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Day Surgery Entrance open Monday – Friday, 5:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
- Columbia Professional Plaza (Front Entrance) Monday – Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturdays: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., and Sundays: 8 a.m. – noon.
For up-to-date GSHCS information, please visit the GSHCS Facebook page or the Good Shepherd website. For general COVID-19 questions, community members may call the OHA hotline by dialing 211 from a cell phone (not a landline). If a community member believes they have been infected by COVID-19 or are exhibiting symptoms such as fever or respiratory illness (cough or shortness of breath), they are urged to call their primary care physician’s office and/or Umatilla County Public Health at 541-278-5432. For medical emergencies, dial 911.
