Parkland Hospital Reducing Visiting Hours As COVID-19 Cases Rise
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Parkland Memorial Hospital is set to reduce visiting hours to 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily on inpatient care units, beginning Friday, Dec. 31.
The hospital said this id due to the increasing number of COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Visitation is limited to one authorized visitor in single-occupancy rooms.
All visitors must be designated and approved by patients/families in advance and visitors' approval will be confirmed by Guest Services staff at the lobby entry, the hospital explained in a news release Wednesday, Dec. 29.
Those not on the patient/family approved visitor list will not be allowed in the hospital. In addition, patients will only be allowed in the building in which they have an appointment. They cannot go back and forth between Parkland buildings.
Parkland leaders are also asking members of the public seeking COVID-19 testing due to exposure or mild symptoms avoid its emergency room and urgent care center and instead seek testing at a pharmacy, doctor's office or dedicated testing site.
"Parkland leaders are strongly encouraging those who have not yet received their COVID-19 vaccine to do so as more unvaccinated people are being hospitalized with the dangerous omicron variant at rates similar to the delta variant spike that occurred earlier this year," the hospital's news release said.
"It's simple, people need to get vaccinated because this surge in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 is preventable," said Joseph Chang, MD, Parkland's Chief Medical Officer.
Individuals can make an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccination at one of Parkland's Community Oriented Primary Care health centers by calling 214-590-7000 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Visitation Guidelines:
• Visiting hours will be from 1 to 4 p.m. daily.
• At the hospital entrance, visitors will be screened for fever, cough and any exposure to known COVID+ persons within the last 14 days. Visitors with any positive responses will not be allowed to visit.
• All visitors are required to wear a mask and to cover their nose and mouth at all times. Visitors not wearing their mask correctly may be asked to leave the hospital.
• Visitors will not be allowed to wait in any public spaces such as waiting rooms, cafeteria or Starbucks lobby.
• Visitors will not be allowed to eat in any patient's room unless permission is given by the Charge Nurse for a special circumstance.
• All end-of-life visits will remain flexible, as dictated by the patient's condition.
• Visitors will not be permitted in any of the outpatient clinics, unless a patient has mobility issues.
For further information about COVID-19, click here.