MVHS to reinstate visiting hours on Wednesday

UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) plans to reopen visiting hours for its facilities — with some restrictions still in place — beginning Wednesday, March 17.

The health system’s leader says it’s making the move because regional vaccinations are increasing and MVHS is seeing fewer COVID-19 patients in its hospitals.

“As more people receive the COVID-19 vaccine and with the continued decline of COVID patients in our hospitals and those testing positive in our region, we felt comfortable opening up visiting hours for our patients and their families,” Darlene Stromstad, president and CEO of MVHS, said in a statement. “Restricting visitation these past few months was critical to keeping our staff and patients safe. However, we are so pleased that our numbers are now in a place where we can welcome back the friends and families of our patients — we know how hard it has been on them not to be able to see each other during this vulnerable time.”

Guideline specifics

MVHS has released visiting-hour guidelines for hospital patients, maternity patients, and outpatient diagnostic and procedural patients.

For hospitalized patients, visiting hours are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the week. MVHS will permit only one visitor per two-hour block (such as between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) on any given day. The health system will continue to screen visitors who will have to wear a mask, social distance, and stay in the patient’s room. MVHS is also “simplifying” the check-in process for visitors to avoid large lines of visitors waiting for people to be logged in.

For outpatient diagnostic and procedural patients (including surgical safe path and medical practices) — one “support person” may go with a patient through the registration process. That person will then be asked to either go to his/her vehicle or wait in a designated area as long as it is not crowded.

MVHS says exceptions on this guideline include the following: partners of pregnant women can attend an ultrasound, a partner who can join a patient at the obstetrics clinic, and individuals requiring support (such as someone in a wheelchair).

For maternity patients, visitation remains the same with one support person staying with the mother throughout her stay. MVHS is prohibiting any “swapping in and out.”

MVHS also notes that the exceptions from the New York State Department of Health still apply. Those exceptions are for pediatric patients, patients for whom a support person has been determined to be essential to the care of the patient — including patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, patients with cognitive impairments including dementia, and patients in immediate end-of-life situations.

For more information about visitation policies for specific areas of the MVHS hospitals such as emergency departments, outpatient services, and maternity, those interested can visit mvhealthsystem.org/visitation.