ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources has announced a new visitor policy at its hospital campuses. Starting June 1, most inpatients and elective surgery patients will again be able to have visitors, one per day, at the bedside.

We know that family and loved ones aid in the healing process and assist care teams as well. Permitting one visitor allows us to address these needs while also trying to keep care team members safe and traffic minimized on the hospital campuses.

The no-visitor guideline remains in effect for COVID-19 positive patients and COVID-19 Persons Under Investigation (PUI) for the safety of the community.

Surgical patients may continue to have one visitor, and now the visitor may accompany their loved one to their inpatient room, if applicable.

Patients in the Emergency Department (ED) or seeking outpatient treatment may not have visitors at this time. ED patients and outpatients who are minors or who need assistance due to physical limitations, altered mental status or developmental delays can continue to have a visitor.

Inpatient visiting hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. with entry into the hospital ending at 8:15 p.m. Visitors to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) should check with unit staff to clarify visiting hours. Labor & Delivery visitors do not have restricted hours.

Inpatients can designate one visitor for the entire day. Visitors may not be rotated throughout the day. This will help limit the total number of people entering the hospitals and maintain personal protective equipment supplies.

Greeters will continue to ask patients and visitors screening questions at entry points to hospital campuses and explain masking and other guidelines. Patients will be given the normal patient wristband with patient label.

When visitors pass the screening questions, they will then be asked to take the following steps:

• Visitors will be provided a colored visitor wristband to wear for the entirety of their visit. Visitors should check out at the same location used to enter to have their wristband removed.
• Both the patient and visitor are required to wear a Texas Health issued mask for the duration of their visit, including time in patient rooms. Visitors may choose to wear a personal mask but will not be allowed to enter the facility without a mask.
• Visitors should plan to remain in the patient’s room, including to eat food purchased in the cafeteria, and avoid congregating in waiting areas or lobbies.
• Visitors should maintain social distance and be diligent about hand hygiene.