Special Message

About Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Baptist Health System is working closely with Metropolitan Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to respond to any potential coronavirus cases in our area. We routinely treat infectious diseases at our hospitals. We have strong infection control policies, procedures, and systems in place to screen and treat patients. We are committed to keeping our patients, our staff, and our community safe. For more information about the coronavirus, go to the CDC website..

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Visitor Restrictions

We are closely monitoring positive COVID-19 cases in our area, and we continue to work with Metropolitan Health, state health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to respond appropriately.

With our COVID SAFE guidelines in place, we have expanded our visitation policy to one visitor per patient in our Emergency Department, Inpatient and Outpatient areas at all of the Baptist Health System hospitals.

Our updated visitation policy is as follows:

Emergency Department – One visitor
Inpatient or Outpatient – One Designated Visitor during Visiting Hours
Pediatric & NICU inpatients– Two identification (ID) banded parents can remain with the patient at all times
Labor & Delivery patients – One designated visitor can remain with the patient as a support person
Surgery/Procedure patients – One designated visitor can:

Escort the patient to registration
Remain in the designated waiting room/lobbies during the patient’s procedure, wearing a facemask and practicing social distancing

Patients with Disabilities – One designated visitor can remain with the patient at all times

Visitors are not permitted for patients in isolation for COVID-19. Alternative communication tools are encouraged for visiting with family and friends (e.g. tablets, phone, etc.)

All visitors will be screened upon entry to the hospital for temperature, respiratory symptoms and exposure and/or pending test results. Visitors will not be granted access for failed or refused screening.

Visitors are required to wear a facemask that covers both their nose and mouth (bandanas are not acceptable and any facemasks with an exhalation valve must be covered or replaced), sanitize their hands and follow social distancing guidelines.
No minors under the age of 16 may visit these areas.
Visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Visitation restrictions are flexible to special needs situations such as:

The patient is at end of life
Access to clergy at a patient’s request
Family/visitor is departing for military deployment

We thank you for understanding the need for this policy in order to best ensure the safety of our patients, staff, physicians and visitors.