To reduce exposure to flu viruses circulating in our community, Samaritan Health Services will implement visitor restrictions at all Samaritan hospitals, beginning Monday, Nov. 2.
The following visitor restrictions will remain in place until further notice:
- Visitors under the age of 12 will not be allowed in the hospitals.
- Visitors under the age of 18 will not be allowed in hospital birthing centers.
- Other visitor restrictions recently implemented for the hospital birthing centers will remain in place. Each new mom will be allowed a total of two support people during her hospital stay. This means two designated support people throughout the entire hospital stay, not simply two at a time.
- Any visitor with influenza like illness or respiratory symptoms will not be allowed in the hospitals.
- Those coming to the hospitals for tests, lab work, etc. who exhibit any respiratory or influenza like symptoms will be required to wear masks.
- All visitors will be required to sanitize their hands upon entry.
“These visitor restrictions will help ensure that those providing care at our hospitals can fulfill their primary mission of caring for vulnerable populations of sick and injured patients, as well as prevent exposure among patients, staff and community members,” said Samaritan Health Services CEO Larry Mullins. “We sincerely thank the public for patience and understanding with these special measures.”
Samaritan hospitals will also route all patients and visitors to specific doorways where they will be screened before entry.
Patients and visitors coming to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis may enter through the following doors at the following times:
- Main entrance at 3600 NW Samaritan Drive, west side of hospital: 24-hour access
- Ralph Hull Regional Heart Center entrance, east side of hospital: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Emergency Room entrance, northwest corner of the new critical care tower: 24-hour access for emergency patients
Samaritan Health Services will announce when visitor restrictions change and or cease. For more information, visit www.samhealth.org and click on “Flu Information.”