Nacogdoches Hospital Updates Visitor Policy Due to COVID-19 Surge
The current surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations in East Texas along with updated guidelines from the CDC have caused a change to the visitation policy at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. In an ongoing effort to keep patients, visitors and staff protected from this virus, no visitors will be allowed unless it is an end-of-life situation, supplemental caregiving situation, labor coach or pediatric caregiver. Patients arriving for procedures in the surgery center, cardiac cath lab and GI lab will be allowed one visitor in order to assist in receiving discharge instructions.
The main website for Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital goes into more details concerning the specifics of visitors, hospital patients, emergency services, and appointments to clinics and medical offices affiliated with the hospital.
Current Patient and Visitor Restrictions
No visitors will be allowed unless it is an end-of-life situation, supplemental caregiving situation, labor coach or pediatric caregiver. In those cases, only one visitor will be allowed with the expectation that visitor and patient will be masked at all times. In order to avoid unnecessary exposure, patients are encouraged to designate as their visitor a close family member or person who will be involved in caregiving at discharge.
Patients arriving for procedures in the surgery center, cardiac cath lab and GI lab will be allowed one visitor in order to assist in receiving discharge instructions.
Some specialty areas have unique visitor guidelines that will be shared on each particular unit.
Approved visitors must be 18+ and will be screened at the door for fever and other symptoms.
Emergency Services Patients
Visitation in the emergency department will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the attending healthcare provider, dependent on the condition of the patient, but in general, no visitors will be allowed.
Isolation Patients
Visitation for isolation patients will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the house supervisor, dependent on the condition of the patient, but in general, no visitors will be allowed.
Exceptions to the Visitation Policy
Exceptions to the Visitation Policy may be made by the attending healthcare provider or the house supervisor for end-of-life or extraordinary circumstances.
Nacogdoches Memorial Professional Group Clinics and Medical Offices
- No visitors will be allowed in NMPG clinics and medical offices, unless accompanying a patient who is unable to make medical decisions, unable to safely move without assistance or is a minor. This includes prenatal and ultrasound patients.
- Approved visitors must be 18+ years, with the expectation that visitor and patient will be masked at all times.
- Walk-in appointments are available.
- If you are sick and need to be seen, please call your provider’s office for an appointment, so accommodations can be made to best protect you, other patients and our healthcare staff.
- If you are sick and have an appointment with one of the NMPG specialists (urology, surgery, gynecology), please call your primary care provider to be evaluated. We will only see sick patients at our specialty clinics under special circumstances.
- Obstetric patients who are ill should call the clinic or office before coming to regularly scheduled prenatal appointments.
- Urology and general surgery patients should call the clinic for assessment if you have an urgent need.
Staff precautions
We continue to take all recommended safety precautions for the health of our employees and patients that we serve. Masking and COVID screening procedures are still in effect at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital.