June 4, 2020 – Starting June 8, Lee Health is easing visitation restrictions while following strict guidelines that will continue to protect the safety of patients and staff during the coronavirus pandemic. Visitation was suspended in March, with some exceptions for compassionate care, to limit the number of people entering health care facilities in an effort to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.
All visitors are required to practice physical distancing, complete a health screening, temperature check, and thoroughly sanitize their hands with alcohol-based gel before visitation. Visitors are also required to bring their own mask or face covering, and wear it all times while in a Lee Health facility.
Visitation to any COVID-19 units or patients requiring airborne precautions (in an isolated room because they are potentially infectious) will continue to be restricted to compassionate care. Compassionate care generally refers to end-of-life situations to give family members the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones, but can cover other areas depending on individual circumstances. Compassionate care visitation is at the discretion of hospital leadership.
“Visitation is an important part of a patient’s recovery. Seeing loved ones brings them comfort and helps them feel more at ease while in the hospital. The restrictions that have been in place have been a hardship, and I thank our community for their understanding as we implemented necessary measures to keep people safe during a global pandemic,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA, Lee Health president & CEO. “We are pleased to be able to welcome visitors back into our facilities, and we are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of patients, visitors and health care workers.”
At the main hospital campuses, patients will be allowed to designate one visitor upon admission. Visitation hours are: 10 – noon and 4 – 6 p.m. No visitors under the age of 12 are permitted.
In outpatient facilities, adult patients are allowed one visitor to accompany them to their appointments. For surgeries, visitors can accompany a patient to registration and then reunite with them in the recovery room. For pediatric procedures, one parent is permitted to stay with their child plus one additional guest above 12 years of age.
During the visitation suspension, frontline health care workers were able to utilize technology to help patients interact with their loved ones virtually. Virtual visitation will remain an option for patients who are unable to have in-person visitors or want to connect with other loved ones besides the designated visitor. To view the full updated visitation policy, please visit: https://www.leehealth.org/our-services/public-health-awareness/hospital-visitation-temporary-restrictions.
About Lee Health
Since the opening of the first hospital in 1916, Lee Health has been a health care leader in Southwest Florida, constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community. A non-profit, integrated health care services organization, Lee Health is committed to the well-being of every individual served, focused on healthy living and maintaining good health. Staffed by caring people, inspiring health, services are conveniently located throughout the community in four acute care hospitals, two specialty hospitals, outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers, primary care and specialty physician practices and other services across the continuum of care. Learn more at www.LeeHealth.org.
