BROOKINGS – Starting this week, Brookings Health is allowing one visitor or support person per patient per day at Brookings Hospital, Yorkshire Eye Clinic & Optical, and the primary care clinics in Arlington, Volga and White.
The move allows patients a visitor in all aspects of hospital care, including the inpatient care unit and outpatient procedures such as radiology and respiratory care appointments.
“We thank everyone for their patience and understanding regarding visitation restrictions these past several months during the COVID-19 threat,” CEO and President Jason Merkley said. “Restrictions were necessary in order to protect the health and safety of our patients and team members. Thanks to the low COVID-19 transmission rate in our community, we can now lift some of the temporary restrictions.”
All individuals entering Brookings Health System facilities will continue to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. They will be asked to follow all infection control guidelines, including proper hand hygiene, and asked to don a cloth mask. Patients, visitors and support persons may bring their own mask or may opt to wear one supplied by the health system. Individuals will also be encouraged to maintain 6-foot social distances and not to unnecessarily linger in public spaces.
Following the South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) guidelines, visitor restrictions will remain in place for The Neighborhoods at Brookview skilled nursing home.
“Our long-term care population remains vulnerable to COVID-19,” Merkley said. “For the health and safety of our residents, the temporary visitor restrictions at The Neighborhoods remains in place at this time. We encourage family and friends to still keep in touch with their loved ones by other means: email, phone, FaceTime, or even a good, old-fashioned letter.”
The DOH has stated reopening nursing homes, like The Neighborhoods, will be a phased approach using recommendations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Once nursing home visitor restrictions can be lifted, Brookings Health will work with the DOH and CMS to ensure reopening criteria for The Neighborhoods is met.
On May 4, Brookings Health System lifted temporary care restrictions on elective and outpatient procedures, following DOH, CMS and CDC guidelines. The move allows patients who put their care plans on hold to receive treatment and services with safety protocols in place. More information on COVID-19 care safety can be found online at brookingshealth.org/SafeCare.
