Providence Medical Group recently published changes to its visitor policy for all its clinics and hospitals in Spokane and Stevens counties, including Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. Key changes include limiting most visitors under the age of 18.
The policy, last updated on January 7, restricts visiting hours to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Exceptions apply in pediatric, NICU and labor and delivery units.
Patients can have up to two visitors at a time, unless they are under isolation precautions for COVID-19, flu, RSV tuberculosis and similar conditions.
Effective Monday, January 12, visitors under the age of 18 will no longer be allowed in the Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, including siblings. Providence said it would re-evaluate this policy in the spring.
Other departments prohibiting visitors under 18 years old include adult critical care, labor and delivery/family maternity center, antepartum, and post partum. There are no exceptions for siblings in these departments either.
Clergy members are recognized as members of a patient’s care team and are allowed to visit with patients at any time, including outside of regular visiting hours.
“Please note: This guidance cannot anticipate every situation,” Providence said in a release. “The hospital administrative supervisor and/or administrator on call may make exceptions to it based on the realities of a given situation, using their best judgment to protect patients and caregivers, acting out of compassion for those involved.”
