Samaritan to Expand Visitation for Inpatients
Published on: May 2, 2021
Watertown, NY – Samaritan will expand limited hospital inpatient visitation starting Monday, May 3, 2021.
Samaritan is pleased to expand visitors who are important to the care and recovery of our patients as our region’s COVID-19 infection rates continue to stabilize. However, some restrictions will apply to limit the number of people in our facilities on any given day, especially with limited waiting area spaces and the ability to social distance safely.
Major patient groups impacted by these new changes:
Hospital Inpatients:
- Two (2) designated visitors per day are permitted. Exceptions may be made for end-of-life visitation, with coordination arranged through the nursing supervisor.
- NO visitation will be permitted for COVID-19 inpatients, COVID-19 Patients Under Investigation (PUI) or patients in quarantine (with compassionate exceptions for end-of-life).
- Visiting hours are from 2:00pm to 6:00pm and all entry and exit will be through the Rotunda entrance, located between the Medical Center and the Samaritan Keep Home.
- If you cannot visit, you can contact your loved one over the phone or through a scheduled video call. The patient’s care team can help schedule and make arrangements for the video call.
- This guidance does not apply to Inpatient Mental Health Unit patients.
Campus Map
General Visitation Guidelines
If any of these requirements are not met the visitor or support person will be asked to leave or not be allowed to stay.
- Visitors should refrain from coming to our facilities if they are ill.
- All visitors and support persons must be 18 years of age or older.
- Visitors and support persons will be provided with a face mask upon entry to the facility and must wear the mask properly at all times while inside the facility.
- If a person refuses to properly wear a face mask, they will be asked to leave the facility immediately.
- Visitors and support persons should self-screen for illness before arriving at Samaritan and before accessing patient care areas.
- If you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 14 days, please do not visit our facilities.
- Visitors and support persons must not be on quarantine or isolation for COVID 19 infection or exposure.
- All visitors and support persons are required to comply with our screening checkpoint procedures; asked screening questions and have their temperature taken upon arrival. If you are unable to comply, you will not be permitted in our facilities.
- Visitors and support persons must stay in the patient’s room, or designated waiting area identified by staff, unless otherwise directed by staff.
- Visitors and support persons cannot accompany patients to tests outside of their room.
- All visitors and support persons must practice social distancing, stay at least six (6) feet away from others, while in the facility.
- Visitors and support persons should wash their hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.