Prisma Health restricting patient visitation due to COVID-19 surge

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– On Friday, Prisma Health announced that they would be placing restrictions on patient visitation across its entire system. Prisma says the move goes into effect Saturday, January 9, and is due to the surge in coronavirus cases seen across the state.

“We know that being with families is itself a healing therapy and so we wrestled with this decision. But we believe this measure is needed in the wake of the growing post-holiday surge of COVID-19, especially given the growing community spread,” said Dr. Eric Ossmann, an emergency medicine physician who is Prisma Health’s Chief of Preparedness and leads its COVID-19 response system-wide.

Broad visitation will be paused but Prisma says they will work to keep families connected through other means such as virtual visits using iPads.

Prisma said some visitation will still be allowed, and listed the following situations.

• Pediatric patients, with only one care partner allowed 24-7 except for a one-hour daily transition period in which both parents or legal guardians may be present for physician discussions and joint training.
• Obstetric patients who are pre-term, in imminent labor, laboring, high-risk and post-partum may have one care partner.
• Patients undergoing sedating procedures such as colonoscopies may have one care partner.
• Case-by-case approval is required for visitation for those requiring additional assistance from care partners, such as for patients with dementia.
• For emergency department care, the ED team will use their discretion in the interest of patient care in the treatment of children, older adults and any patients with special needs.
• Up to three visitors may be allowed in end-of-life situations.
• Patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 are not permitted to have visitation except under special case-by-case approvals.

According to Prisma, regarding physician office visits, pediatric patients are allowed one care partner, except for infants younger than 2-months-old who may have two parents present. Additionally, Prisma says one care partner is allowed for adults with special needs.

For the latest information regarding Prisma’s COVID-19 response, visit prismahealth.org/coronavirus.