CRH and Franciscan Health announce hospital visitation restrictions for the holiday

Columbus Regional Health announced Tuesday that it will implement hospital visitation restrictions starting next week, citing a rise in respiratory infections ahead of holiday gatherings.

CRH officials said the county hospital system has seen a recent increase in people with respiratory viruses coming through its emergency department and outpatient settings.

So far, the biggest jump in cases has been with flu, though officials have seen cases of COVID-19 and RSV. Hospitalizations at CRH have remained “pretty stable,” officials said.

“With people gathering for the holidays in the next couple days/weeks, and lower vaccination rates, this is a crucial time,” CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue told The Republic on Tuesday. “We ask that everyone be extra diligent with symptom awareness, hand hygiene, masking if you’ve had symptoms or live around someone with symptoms, etc.”

Starting Monday, CRH will limit visitation at the hospital campus in Columbus to people ages 18 years and up, as well as no more than two visitors per patient at a time. Visitation hours will remain unchanged.

Visitors may rotate in most cases, although special exceptions may apply depending on patient circumstance or unit/department requirements, the hospital said.

The hospital said the following guidelines will also be implemented:

• Visitors having symptoms suggestive of illness (including, but not limited to: cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea, tiredness, headache, or vomiting) will not be allowed to visit and will be respectfully asked to leave for the safety of our patients and staff.
• Visitors may be asked to wear a mask in patient rooms when requested.
• Birthing Center and Pediatrics/Women & Children’s
• For the Birthing Center, patients must identify, upon arrival, two primary support persons to be present while in labor, and no more than four additional individuals who will be permitted visitation rights during their stay (this number does not include the “primary support persons”).
• For the Level 2 Nursery, only the two individuals with an ID band matching the infant’s band will be allowed to visit. There will be no additional visitors allowed in the Level 2 Nursery.
• Birthing Center & Pediatrics (Women & Children) visitation is allowed between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be no visitors allowed between 2 a.m./p.m. and 4 a.m./p.m. due to maternal rest time.
• Visitation amendments may be made in extenuating circumstances at the discretion of unit leadership.

The announcement from CRH comes one day after Franciscan Health issued visitation restrictions at hospitals in central Indiana due to increased respiratory virus activity.

Franciscan Health hospitals in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel implemented updated visitation restrictions this week in inpatient areas. The following policy went into effect on Monday:

• Visitors must be at least 18 years old
• Only two visitors per patient are allowed to visit at a time (excluding clergy who are part of the care team).
• Those having symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including, but not limited to cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea, tiredness, headache and vomiting, will not be allowed to visit.
• If visiting a patient who has respiratory symptoms, visitors are asked to keep a mask on and do not visit the cafeteria, coffee and gift shops or waiting rooms.
• Visitors should continue to practice good hand hygiene.
• Visitation hours are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The updated policies are being implemented with input from Franciscan Alliance leadership and in accordance with guidelines from the Marion County Public Health Department, the hospital system said.

Franciscan Health also urged everyone ages 6 months and older to get a flu shot, saying that vaccination is “the first and most important step for protecting against flu viruses.” RSV vaccines are also strongly encouraged, Franciscan said..