Eastern Washington (Spokane & Stevens County)

UPDATED Dec. 4, 2023

We have updated our visitor policy. These changes went into effect Wednesday, July 19 for all hospitals and clinics in Spokane and Stevens counties. 

Information about masking in our hospitals and clinics

Effective April 3 in Washington State, masking requirements for health care settings expired. In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will end the COVID-19 federal public health emergency on May 11, 2023. 

During this interim period in which the state requirement is lifted but we remain under a federal public health emergency, the following will be the masking protocol at:

• Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

• Providence Holy Family Hospital 

• Providence Mount Carmel Hospital

• Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital

• Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center

• Providence Medical Group clinics

These changes went into effect Monday, April 3. Guidance will be updated in May according to CDC recommendations.

Hospitals

Patients

• Masking is highly recommended when another person is in their room or is providing care, as well as when the patient is out of their room, such as in the hallway or when in a waiting area. 

• Masking will be required if the patient is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness, or for 10 days after testing positive.

Visitors

• Hospitals: Masking is highly recommended for those entering a patient's room, during interactions with caregivers, and in waiting areas. 

  • We will continue passive symptom screening of visitors. Please remember, if you enter a hospital, you are attesting that you do not have COVID symptoms. 

  • Visitors exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness, or are within 10 days of testing positive for COVID 19 will not be allowed to enter the hospital.

Providence Medical Group Clinics 

Patients

• Masking will be recommended but no longer required, unless the patient is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness, or for 10 days after testing positive.

Visitors

• Masking will be recommended but no longer required, unless:

  • The visitor is accompanying a patient who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness, suspect of COVID, symptomatic, or 10 days after testing positive.

  •  Asked to wear a mask by the patient.

Note: We may re-institute universal masking if we see high levels of respiratory viruses circulating in the community (e.g., influenza, RSV, COVID).

While the risks associated with COVID-19 may continue to recede, we must be mindful of other infectious diseases circulating in the community and the need to protect our vulnerable populations to the degree possible. 

Information about COVID-19 Vaccines

The vaccine is one of the very best ways to help protect yourself.

Those who are eligible can use Vaccine Locator you learn more:

to find the vaccination distribution sites closest to you. If you have further questions or need more help making an appointment, you can call the state's COVID-19 information hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #.

If you have questions about the vaccine, below you will find some educational resources to help

• Vaccine FAQ
• Coronavirus.providence.org
• FDA COVID-19 vaccine information
• CDC COVID-19 vaccine information
• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine FAQ
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine FAQ

Non-Emergency Procedures/Surgeries

Updated Thursday, February 17, 2022

If You Need to See a Doctor

Our primary care and specialty providers are available through live video to provide a diagnosis, treatment plan and, if needed, a prescription, while ensuring you receive the same excellent care you're accustomed to with your medical group provider. Telephone consultations and safe, in-person visits may also be available, based on physician guidelines. Learn more about how you can access safe care.

If You Are Experiencing Coronavirus Symptoms

If you think you have COVID-19, we encourage you to begin with our online coronavirus assessment tool. We developed a “chat” tool to help you assess your risk and connect you with a provider through ExpressCare Virtual if you are at a higher risk for the virus. We also have a number of COVID-19 testing centers, which can be located on this map. 

Urgent Care and ExpressCare Locations

Patients who need urgent care — regardless of their symptoms — can visit any of our Providence Urgent Care locations. And, minimize your in-clinic wait time by reserving your spot online. 

• Providence Medical Park – Spokane Valley, 16528 E. Desmet Ct., Spokane Valley
• Providence Urgent Care – 5th & Division, 421 S. Division St., Spokane
• Providence Urgent Care – Hawthorne, 551 E. Hawthorne Rd., Spokane

Visitor Restrictions at Our Hospitals and Clinics

We restricted visitor access in our hospitals and Providence Medical Group clinics in Spokane and Stevens counties in January to protect our patients and caregivers during the latest COVID-19 surge. We have updated our visitor policy due to reduced COVID cases in the region. 

UPDATED November 29, 2023 

• Visiting hours are restricted to 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Holy Family Hospital, Mount Carmel Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Providence St. Luke's Rehabilitation Medical Center, with exceptions to our Pediatric, NICU, and Labor and Delivery units which do not have restricted hours. 
• Access Control will continue to check in all visitors and outpatients where there are designated stations. In facilities without designated stations the units will manage visitors. 
• Inpatients who are not in isolation precautions (COVID, tuberculosis, etc.) may have two visitors at a time in the patient’s room. Please note, additional visitors will not be allowed in the unit until the current visitors have exited the room.
• Visitors under 18 are allowed with the exception of  our adult critical care units  – if accompanied by an adult, the child is not counted as one of the two visitors. 
• Inpatients who are in isolation precautions (COVID, tuberculosis, etc.) may have two visitors per day. The visitors must wear full PPE provided by the hospital (under 18 not allowed except through the exception process below).

ALL visitors, advocates, parents and visitors who meet the above criteria must also comply with the following instructions: 

• All visitors will check in at a screening desk and get a visitor pass.
• Visitors must follow staff instructions regarding masking, hand washing and use of personal protective equipment. 
• Be respectful: No aggressive behavior will be tolerated. No guns or weapons are allowed on hospital campus. 

General exceptions to the above hospital visitor policy include the following: 

• Patients who are at end of life. 
• Patients who require language interpretation unable to be met by the tele-translator. 

Clergy Members 

Providence recognizes members of the clergy as part of the care team and are allowed to visit with patients at any time, including outside regular visitation hours. Clergy does not count as a patient’s daily visitor. Clergy members are required to be screened when they enter.   

Unit-specific guidelines: 

Children’s Hospital admissions and pediatric patients   

• Pediatric patients may have 2 adult visitors, one visitor must wear a wrist band. 
  • Siblings can be an un-banded visitors and must be with a banded adult. No siblings in isolation rooms
• Clubhouse is open with limited availability please call 509-474-2850
• No siblings allowed in NICU

Adult Critical Care

• Visitors under 18 are not allowed in these units

Adult Critical Care (Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center only)

Effective Dec. 1, 2023

• Two visitors at a time
• No visitors under the age of 18.
• Visitors are welcome 24 hours a day. However, between the hours of 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. only the patient's designated care partner may remain in the room. The care partner is someone requested by the patient or the designated decision maker for the patient. Please note, our entrance hours have been updated. Visitors coming afterhours will need to use the entrance through the parking garage of the Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital.

• All laboring inpatients may have 1 adult person and 1 visitor during labor and birth process.  
• 1 banded plus 2 visitors (includes siblings 13 years and older) total of 4 (includes birthing person)
• A certified doula is considered part of treatment team; however, the doula must leave two hours after delivery.  

• Post Partum patients may have 2 visitors who are banded and two visitors at a time plus siblings. 

• Post Partum patients may have 2 visitors (incudes birthing person) who are banded and two visitors at a time, one which is banded. (2 siblings at a time)

• Emergency Department patients may have two visitors for non-isolation patients. 
• For isolation patients, patients may have one visitor at a time in full PPE. 

• Clinic, laboratory, or radiology patients who have appointments at the hospital or clinics, may have two people escorting a patient. 

• Surgical or procedural patients who are arriving to the hospital may have two support/escort people.  

Please note: This guidance cannot anticipate every situation. 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. 

Entry into Our Facilities

Visitors will check in at the screening desk prior to entering and receive a visitor pass which they will visibly wear during the entire time of visit or appointment. 

Open entrances at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital:

• The main entrance is open 4:45 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday – Friday, and 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
• The Children’s Hospital garage (Star elevators) is open Monday - Friday, 5 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• L2 valet is open 5 a.m.- 8 p.m.
• Emergency department entrance is open 24/7 and is the ONLY hospital entrance open after hours. 

Open entrances at Providence Holy Family Hospital:

• The south entrance is open 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Friday, and 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• The north entrance/Inland Imaging entrance is open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Use the emergency department entrance when the south and north entrance are closed.

Open entrances at Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center: 

• One entrance is available at the main entrance of the Medical Office Building & Hospital at 715 S. Cowley. Doors will be open 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends.

Open Entrances at Providence Mount Carmel Hospital:

UPDATED Dec. 4, 2023

• All patients who haven't been given special instructions should use the main entrance. After hours, patients will need to request entrance using the call button. 

Open Entrances at Providence St. Joseph's Hospital

UPDATED Nov. 28, 2023

• The main and emergency department entrances are open 6:45 a.m. – 4:35 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
• During afterhours and weekends, patients will be granted entry through the emergency department.

Stevens County Clinics

Providence Northeast Washington Medical Group is doing everything possible to maintain a safe environment at their clinics in Colville, Chewelah and Kettle Falls. All patients are being screened upon arrival to minimize possible coronavirus exposure to patients and caregivers. Patients who do not have acute respiratory symptoms should feel safe to come in for their regular appointments.

Patients who do have acute respiratory symptoms should call (509) 684-3701 to be directed to the proper location for further evaluation and treatment.

About the Author

The Providence News Team brings you the updates to keep you informed about what's happening across the organizational ecosystem. From partnerships to new doctor announcements, we are committed to keeping you informed.

More Content by Providence News Team