Memorial Hermann visiting policies change as COVID-19 cases rise

As of July 21, Memorial Hermann has changed its visitor policy in light of a recent increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the Greater Houston area, according to a news release from the hospital.

The following modifications were announced for visitors at inpatient facilities.

• Acute care facilities, TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital, Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy and Memorial Hermann Prevention & Recovery Center will allow one adult visitor age 18 or older per adult patient per day. Overnight visitors will not be allowed except at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital and Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy, where patients with life-threatening injuries will be allowed one adult visitor. The adult visitor should be the same adult who visited that day, according to the release.
• Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and all other Memorial Hermann acute care hospitals will allow two parent/guardian visitors per pediatric patient per day, of which one may also stay overnight.
• Two adult visitors age 17 and older are permitted per patient per day for laboring, antepartum and postpartum patients. One of the same adult visitors may also stay overnight.
• The listed age restrictions do not apply to visitors in the Emergency Center accompanying a patient. Minors, who are those age 17 and under, who accompany Emergency Center patients must remain with the patient, according to the hospital.
• One adult visitor age 18 and older is allowed for patients in contact isolation, but overnight visitors are not allowed. No visitors will be allowed for patients under droplet, airborne or a combination of isolation precautions.
• Family members may visit patients in hospice or supportive medicine care.

Several modifications to outpatient facilities were also announced.

Memorial Hermann Imaging Centers, Memorial Hermann Breast Care Centers, Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation and Memorial Hermann Convenient Care Center locations will allow one visitor age 12 or older per adult patient. Pediatric patients may have up to two individuals accompanying them.

Memorial Hermann Medical Group clinics will allow: One primary caregiver, such as a guardian or adult caregiver of a dependent patient; one accompanying adult for obstetrician visits and OB ultrasound visits; one parent/guardian for any pediatric patient visits; or two parents/guardians for pediatric patients under the age of 18 months old or for patients needing discussion about developmental concerns.

Reasonable accommodations will be made for pediatric visits for sibling visitors in good health, according to the release.

TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation and Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy Outpatient Rehabilitation will allow one parent/guardian visitor per pediatric patient, and patients visiting the TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Medical Clinic are allowed one adult visitor.

University Place, a Memorial Hermann Skilled Nursing Facility and independent adult living community, follows the state’s guidelines for nursing center visitation.

Other regional hospitals

Among other Greater Houston area hospitals with multiple locations, Houston Methodist stated it does not have any changes to its visitor policy as of July 21.

St. Luke's Health has not changed its visitor policy for COVID-19 patients as of July 21, according to Director of External Communications Vanessa Astros. Visitors are not allowed for COVID-19 patients. Non-COVID-19 patients are allowed two visitors age 18 or older from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"[We] continue to monitor the situation and the prevalence of COVID-19 in Montgomery County closely and are ready to adjust our policies if needed based on the community prevalence and other factors," Astros said.

She also said masks are required at all health care facilities, and screening staff and visitors for symptoms and fever as well as practicing enhanced cleaning and social distancing are in place.

Additional reporting by Jishnu Nair.