CHI Texas Division Adopts Highly Restrictive Visitation Policy

HOUSTON (March 24, 2020) – Effective at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, CHI Texas Division will have a new visitation policy in effect to protect our patients, visitors, employees and physicians. We are adopting a stricter visitation policy to align with Brazos and Harris County’s stay-at-home orders, as well as similar actions taken by numerous cities and counties in Texas. The following changes will remain in effect until further notice.

• No visitors will be allowed in the hospital.
• Exceptions will be managed by medical decision makers in the areas of: end-of-life, pediatric, NICU, labor & deliver, and patients who need language services. However, under no circumstances are children under the age of 18 allowed in our facilities.
• Other exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Greeters will be screening at the designated entrances with a list of basic questions to help ensure that individuals who might spread the virus get the care they need while not exposing patients, staff, and other guests. Until the COVID pandemic has subsided:

• Healthcare workers with fever, cough, sore throat, or other flu-like symptoms are not permitted in any area of the hospital, unless seeking care.
• People who have traveled to high-risk areas for COVID-19 or had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 are not permitted to visit any area of the hospital, unless seeking care.
• All patients who are coughing are requested to wear a mask.

During this time, we encourage visitors to consider alternative communication options, if available, such as phone, FaceTime, Skype, text, or email. We understand this change in policy may be difficult for families, but it is imperative we take additional precautions to keep our patients and community safe during this global pandemic.   Below are facilities impacted by the modified visitor policy: St. Luke’s Health (serving the Greater Houston community)

• Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center
• St. Luke’s Health—Lakeside Hospital
• St. Luke’s Health—Springwoods Village Hospital
• St. Luke’s Health—The Vintage Hospital
• St. Luke’s Health—The Woodlands Hospital
• St. Luke’s Health—Sugar Land Hospital
• St. Luke’s Health—Patients Medical Center

St. Luke’s Health Memorial (serving the communities in Lufkin, Livingston, and San Augustine)

• St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin
• St. Luke’s Health Memorial San Augustine
• St. Luke’s Health Memorial Livingston

St. Joseph Health (serving the Brazos Valley community) 

• St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital
• St. Joseph Health Grimes Hospital
• St. Joseph Health Madison Hospital
• St. Joseph Health Burleson Hospital
• St. Joseph Health College Station Hospital

For more information on how to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, visit CHIStJoseph.org/covid-19 or cdc.gov/coronavirus.