Limited Visitation and Support Persons Allowed as COVID Cases/Hospitalizations Decrease

Watertown, NY – Limited visitation and support persons has been announced beginning Monday, February 28, 2022.  Masks continue to be required to protect patients, staff, support persons, and visitors.

After months of careful consideration, Samaritan has determined it is now in a position to allow limited visitation based on the stabilization of COVID-19 hospitalization rates.  Visitation promotes health and well-being to patients, proving to decrease the length of stay, increase patient satisfaction, and decrease readmissions.

The following patient populations are impacted:

Emergency Department

Medical, Surgical, Intensive Care Unit, and Progressive Care Unit

Inpatient Mental Health

Inpatients with Intellectual and/or Developmental Delays

Outpatient Services

Surgical Services

Patients, Support Persons, and Visitors are encouraged to review our visitor policy online at https://bit.ly/SMCVisitation.

For safety purposes, all visitors must be in good health and screened.  Driver’s license and photo ID are required at the time of visit.  Most visitation is 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. and is restricted to those 18 years and older; some exceptions may be made.  Masks are required, as well as proper hand-washing throughout the visit. Visitors who have recently been in quarantine or in contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to stay home.

NYS Approved FREE Coronavirus PCR Testing to End at Samaritan’s Drive-up Location

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center received notification this week that the last day of free NYS-sponsored COVID testing will be Friday, February 25, 2022, at the Samaritan Drive-Up Testing Site, as per the state’s directive.  

Samaritan’s Drive-Up Testing location remains open as we test surgical patients and those directed to be tested who call our Resource Line at 315-755-3100 if they have any COVID symptoms. Our paid PCR testing also remains to be done for the $100 fee, which has been very helpful to international travelers. If a patient has scheduled a test for travel purposes and used the free testing option, they will need to reschedule and pay for the test. 

There are other local testing options, and we encourage community members to use the NYS Testing Site Finder to do so – https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you.

Samaritan’s Jan Turcotte, MD, Elected into Healthcare Trustees of New York State

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce Jan Turcotte, MD, has been elected into the board of governors for Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS).  Dr. Turcotte is the current chair of the Medical Center Board.

In her new role, Dr. Turcotte will collaborate with a team of trustees representing hospitals, continuing care organizations, and health systems from across New York state. They have a responsibility to provide guidance on and assist HTNYS activities and programs that aim to strengthen the voluntary healthcare system through improved leadership and increased involvement by healthcare trustees.

Jan Turcotte, MD

Throughout her career, Dr. Turcotte was an active member of the medical staff at Samaritan. She served as Chairperson of the Credentials and Operating Room – Ambulatory Surgical Unit committees, as well as Chairperson of the Department of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Surgery. She also was President of the Medical Staff in 1992. In these leadership positions, she was a voice and advocate for medical care at Samaritan and throughout the North Country.

Dr. Turcotte previously held roles with the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, YMCA, Hospice of Jefferson County, and the Northern New York Community Foundation. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of Samaritan Medical Center for several years and currently holds the position of Chairperson.

The doctor was nominated for the role by Catherine Burns Quencer, former Chairperson of Samaritan Medical Center’s Board of Trustees and outgoing member of the HTNYS Board.

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