Banner Health hospitals start allowing 1 visitor per patient per day
Sep 15, 2020, 2:00 PM
The model will work to increase care coordination and improve access to services and supports. (Banner Health Photo)
(Banner Health Photo)
PHOENIX – Arizona’s largest hospital network has eased visitor restrictions that have been in place throughout the COVID-19 pandemic at most of its inpatient facilities.
Banner Health last week started allowing one visitor per patient per day in the Phoenix, Tucson and Casa Grande areas.
The network hadn’t allowed visitors since implementing restrictions in March.
Visits, which began Thursday for most inpatients, are now allowed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can’t exceed three hours, Banner said Tuesday in a press release.
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Visitation is still prohibited in most cases for Banner’s outpatient services, such as emergency rooms and urgent care centers.
All visitors will undergo a health screening at check-in. Nobody with COVID-19 symptoms or who has tested positive for the virus will be allowed in.
To speed up the process, a pre-screen attestation can be requested and completed before the visit by texting VISIT to 602-428-7478.
Visitors, who must be at least 12 years old, also must bring their own face masks and wear them for the entire time inside the hospital.
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Because of the daily limit, visitors shouldn’t just drop in. They should plan their visits in advance with patients.
Flowers and other gifts are prohibited.
Find more details on Banner’s visitor policy, including exemptions, here.
Phoenix-based Banner Health operates 28 acute-care hospitals in Arizona and Colorado.
