PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center adjusts visitor policy to allow for limited visitor access

||| FROM DEANNA ELLEFSON for PEACE ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER |||

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. – PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center continues to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 in our community to ensure the health and safety of our patients, visitors and staff members until COVID-19 is no longer a public health threat. Beginning Friday, Feb. 19, at 9 a.m., we will adjust our visitor policy to allow for limited visitor access at our medical center.

Patients who are not COVID-19 suspect or positive are allowed one designated visitor during their stay. Two visitors are allowed on a case-by-case basis for:

• Minor patients (parents or legal guardians only)
• Patients with a cognitive or physical disability
• Patients at the end-of-life

Other exceptions may be made at the discretion of the PeaceHealth Peace Island’s clinical care team.

We recognize that having a loved one by a patient’s side is important during a hospital stay.  We believe these changes best balance comfort for our patients and families while still effectively safeguarding against the spread of COVID-19 for our patients, caregivers and the broader community.

PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics will continue to limit visitors except for those accompanying patients needing assistance. Examples of patients who may require assistance include those with physical or cognitive impairments. In addition, visitors will be permitted in those clinical situations where a visitor will be integral to the decision making and information exchange process, for example, for Obstetrics, Palliative Care, Oncology and major procedural discussions.

Consistent with current safety measures at PeaceHealth facilities, all visitors will be screened for fever and COVID-19 symptoms before entering the facility. Visitors must also wear a mask during their entire visit, clean hands frequently, practice social distancing and refrain from travel within the facility.

Visit peacehealth.org/coronavirus for more information about visitation and safety measures at PeaceHealth, as well as other education and prevention resources related to COVID-19.

About PeaceHealth: Based in Vancouver, Wash., PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center, a 10-bed Critical Access Hospital in Friday Harbor, serves communities in the San Juan Islands. Key services include general and orthopedic surgery, oncology, diagnostic imaging, behavioral health and primary care. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.