Niagara Falls Memorial revises visitation policy

Changes are intended to heighten protection in wake of coronavirus outbreak

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center today revised its visitation policy to afford better protection to its patients, staff and visitors in the wake of the worldwide coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.

While viewed as temporary, the new policy will be reviewed regularly and will remain in effect until further notice. Changes include:

•Visiting hours on the medical units will now be from noon to 6 p.m. daily.

•Patient visitation will limited to immediate family members/significant others who have been authorized by the patient.

•No more than two visitors at a time will allowed to visit a patient.

•Visitors under age 14 will not permitted.

In addition, no authorization to visit will be granted to:

•People who have visited Italy, South Korea, China, Japan or Iran within 14 days.

•People who have experienced shortness of breath, fever, runny or stuffy nose, vomiting, diarrhea or respiratory symptoms in the past three days.

•People who have been exposed to someone with influenza, respiratory virus, diarrhea or coronavirus (COVID-19) within 14 days.

Behavioral health visiting hours will remain unchanged. All visitors will be asked to sign in at Memorial’s first floor information desk and at the nurses station on the unit they visit. Emergency department visitors will be asked to sign in at the registration desk in the ER1 waiting room.

“While we realize these changes may result in some inconvenience, it is incumbent upon us to utilize the utmost caution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and to protect our patients, staff and the community,” said Memorial Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer JoAnn Pellegrino.