Buffalo, NY (WBEN) ECMC says it's given the state health department the required two days notice on plans to allow visitation. That will begin on Friday.
ECMC says upon entering, visitors must be 18 or older and answer general health questions and have their temperature taken.
Visitors will be required to wear masks except to eat or drink. They must stay in the patient’s room and limit time in common areas and cannot accompany patient to tests outside of their room. During this time, visitors can obtain to-go orders from cafeteria, use the restroom or spend time in the outdoor areas.
One designated inpatient visitor at a time is permitted, and visiting hours for inpatient rooms will be from 3pm to 7pm. ECMC says only one designated visitor at a time allowed for the duration of a patient’s stay. Exceptions can be made for End of Life visitation, where 2 visitors are allowed.
Visiting hours for critical care will be 4:30pm to 6pm.
Other visitation policies:
KeyBank Trauma and Emergency Department
1. Only one support person at a time per patient for their entire stay. The patient or their legal representative will determine the identified essential support person who can visit the hospital. One visitor will be able to accompany you in the Emergency Department, and your visitor must remain in the patient’s treatment room for the entire visit.
2. All visitors must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms
3. Each visitor must wear a mask at all times, and ensure social distancing with proper hand hygiene
4. If your loved one is admitted to the hospital, you may accompany them to their room during inpatient visiting hours. If they are admitted outside of visiting hours, you must return during visiting hours.
5. Pediatric patients may have both parents as essential support persons.
Behavioral Health & Acute Substance Abuse Unit
All visits are by appointment only.
Surgery and Procedure Areas
1. For Elective cases information will be provided to the patient on limitation to one essential person to accompany them the day of the procedure. Upon check-in, the patient will be asked to provide their essential support person’s contact info.
2. If a patient has a surgery that requires admission outside of visitation hours, the essential person will be welcomed to return during visitation hours.
Outpatient Clinics and Services
Outpatient clinics and services must limit people accompanying the patient to one essential support person when the patient needs assistance. Scheduling of patients must be done in a manner to limit time in waiting rooms due to the waiting room space constraints.
Terrace View Long-Term Care Facility
Visitation remains suspended at Terrace View.
Catholic Health is also finalizing a plan to safely welcome visitors back to its hospitals on Saturday, June 20. Visitation for inpatients only will be from 2pm-6pm daily. Current visitor restrictions will remain in effect until that time.
New processes and guidelines are being finalized based on directives issued today by the New York State Department of Health (DOH), which include limited visiting hours, (2pm-6pm daily for inpatients only), limits on the number of visitors at one time, required facial masking, and health screenings for all visitors.
The guidelines will be in place at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, and Sisters of Charity Hospital, Main St. Campus only.
Kaleida Health is offering limited visitation from 3pm to 7pm daily. A complete listing of their updated visitation policy is available here.