Lexington Hospitals Updating Visitor Restrictions Starting Tuesday, Nov. 17
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2020) – In response to the increasing community spread of COVID-19, hospitals in Lexington are updating their visitor restrictions starting Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Baptist Health Lexington, CHI Saint Joseph Health and UK HealthCare’s visiting hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Overnight visitors are not allowed and each visitor must wear a mask at all times while in the facility, including in the patient’s room. All visitors will be screened before entering the facilities for history of exposure to COVID-19 and symptoms of illness and a valid ID will be required.
While each hospital’s visitor restrictions may vary slightly, they will all require screening and anyone who enters the building will be required to wear a mask and practice good hand hygiene. Anyone with a fever, cough, runny nose or body aches is asked to not visit the hospital. Patients and visitors are asked to limit the number of personal items brought with them to only those necessary for their care. Visitors are asked to leave the hospital when their visit is over and not spend time in public areas, such as lobbies, waiting areas, cafeterias and vending areas.
“We need your assistance to slow the spread of this virus in the community. Please wear a mask, remain socially distant, and avoid gatherings,” said Mark Dougherty, MD, a hospital epidemiologist at Baptist Health Lexington. “If you come to any of the hospitals with a patient, you must wear a mask at all times.”
The new visitation restrictions affect Baptist Health Lexington, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital and UK Good Samaritan Hospital.
"We ask for your cooperation and assistance in complying with these restrictions as we navigate changes needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Mark Newman, MD, University of Kentucky executive vice president for health affairs. “The safety and well-being of our patients, employees and our community is our greatest concern and priority in making these decisions.”
For information regarding specific hospital policies, visit their websites:
- UK HealthCare – ukhealthcare.uky.edu/covid-19/visitor-restrictions
- Baptist Health Lexington – baptisthealth.com/lexington or call 859.260-6100
- CHI Saint Joseph Health – chisaintjosephhealth.com/temporary-visitor-restrictions·
We appreciate your cooperation with these efforts to keep our most vulnerable loved ones safe.
About UK HealthCare
UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is 9,000 people – physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals – all dedicated to providing the most advanced, most effective care available, not just in Kentucky but anywhere. As an academic research institution, our physicians as well as pharmacists, nurses and other healthcare professionals are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Their discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. At the same time, our educators and thought leaders in health policy and delivery are transforming the healthcare landscape in Kentucky to provide the right care in the right place for everyone in the state.
About Baptist Health Lexington
Baptist Health Lexington, a 434-bed acute care hospital, has been designated a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence four times by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This is more designations than any other Kentucky hospital. Established in 1954 as Central Baptist, the hospital has more than 500 physicians on staff, representing more than 50 medical specialties. Baptist Health offers points of care throughout the Lexington area with a network of healthcare providers for patients – from Baptist Health Medical Group offices, to Baptist Health Urgent Care and Baptist Health Occupational Medicine. The hospital’s family-centered obstetrics program delivers close to 4,000 babies a year.
About CHI Saint Joseph Health
CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of Catholic Health Initiatives, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.