June 19, 2023 - Providence-Swedish updates masking requirements. Most caregiver, patient and visitor masking now optional for those entering our ministries. Visitors with respiratory viral symptoms should not visit and may be asked to leave. 
Masking is optional in non-clinical areas and during patient-facing encounters in hospitals and clinics, when not required for standard or transmission-based precautions. We continue to see patients who have serious health vulnerabilities, therefore, some exceptions apply, see details below for when masking is still required.
We will continue limited visitation for inpatients at Providence Centralia and St. Peter hospitals and self-screening at hospital entrances. Signs at each entrance will offer clear instructions for patients and visitors.
By entering the hospital, people will confirm:
- They do not have COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms
- They haven’t been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 10 days
Visitors who don’t meet the guidelines should not visit until symptoms are resolved.
When masks are still required:
Masking for high-risk patient populations during direct patient care (upon entering the room) is required. High-risk patient populations include:
- Active cancer treatment
- Hematologic malignancy
- Recipients of solid organ transplant
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Prolonged use of drugs that suppress the immune system
- People born with immunodeficiencies
Masks will continue to be offered at hospital entrances. If a patient or another visitor is masked and asks you to mask in their presence, please comply.
Thank you for your assistance in this new phase of managing COVID-19 in our facilities.
Visitation:
-
Visitation hours 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- No in-person visitation is permitted for COVID-positive patients (exceptions noted below)
Emergency Department patients may have one essential support person for an entire emergency department stay.
Obstetric patients may have two support partners and one birth support person (doula) to accompany them. The partners may stay the entire time. The doula must leave the hospital once the patient leaves the labor room. COVID positive laboring mothers may have one essential support person during labor and delivery. The essential support person must remain masked and not leave the patient room.
Special Care Nursery patients may have two parents/guardians. No siblings allowed.
Critical Care Unit, Medical & Surgical Inpatient Units, Continuous Observation Unit (COU)
- If an Essential Support Person is deemed necessary beyond normal visitation hours, a plan of care will be coordinated.
- Patients who are COVID-postive or a Person Under Investigation (PUI) are not allowed to have Visitors/ESP with the exceptions of End of Life, Pediatrics, and Women's and Children's Services
End-of-life visitation
- Non-COVID In-patients who are at the end-of-life (expected to pass away within 12-24 hours) may have two visitors at a time.
- End-of-life COVID-positive patients may have an in-room visit. May be limited to 30 minutes under certain circumstances, to maintain visitor safety. 2 visitors allowed at a time. Nurses will provide education to visitors for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). If patients are in a shared room, in-person visitation will be allowed only if both patients are on ventilators.
Patient Belongings
With limited visitation, we ensure the safety of the belongings of our patients. Please note, only the following are allowed:
- Discharge clothes
- Electronics for communication such as a phone, charger, or tablet/pad/laptop
- Items specifically requested by a nurse (such as hearing aids, glasses, contacts, dentures)
- Flower deliveries -- NO LILLIES OR LATEX BALLOONS
- Medications (MUST be approved and picked up by nurse)
Patients in delivery going to the Family Birth Center are allowed to bring in additional items (i.e. baby clothes, birthing equipment, car seat, etc.).
Patients and members of the community who wish to contact Providence SW facilities with the assistance of a qualified interpreter free of cost may dial 833-640-1418.
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