In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the St. Luke’s Health – Texas Division has further modified its visitation policy to continue to provide ongoing protection for our patients, employees, and physicians while balancing the key role caregivers play in the quality of care and outcomes of patients. This policy aligns with the State of Texas, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

To ensure everyone’s safety, some adult visitors are now allowed under the circumstances outlined below. However, visitor guidelines may vary per facility as they are determined by the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community and facility space considerations. Please call your local hospital for the latest visitor policy or view facility status updates.

• Non-COVID patients are allowed to have a single adult visitor acting on their behalf on the day of the procedure and on the day of discharge. A single designated caregiver aged 18 and older will also be allowed for labor and delivery, pediatrics, and NICU.
• In extraordinary end-of-life situations, non-COVID-19 patients will be limited to two adult visitors at a time (for a maximum of one hour). COVID-19 positive patients or Patients Under Investigation (PUI) will be limited to one visitor only (for a maximum of one hour). Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration.
• No visitors will be allowed for COVID-19 positive or Patients Under Investigation (PUI) including dedicated COVID-19 hospital units. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration.

Until the COVID pandemic has subsided: 

• Healthcare workers, visitors, and patients with fever, cough, sore throat, or other COVID-19 like symptoms are not permitted in any area of the hospital, unless seeking care. 
• Anyone who has traveled to high-risk areas for COVID-19 or had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 in the past 14 days are not permitted to visit any area of the hospital, unless seeking care. 
• All patients and approved visitors are requested to wear a mask while in the hospital. 
• Staff will escort patients to and from appointments if needed. Friends/family will drop patients off and pick them up from the front lobby. 

Guidance for Visitors and Single Designated Caregivers who meet the exceptions list: 

• Must be 18 years old or older. 
• Must pass the screening at the designated entrances which includes: 
  
  • No COVID-19 symptoms per CDC guidelines. 
  • Have not traveled to infected areas with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. 
  • Have not been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. 
• Must frequently wash their hands, limit interactions with others, and practice social distancing. Visitors will be restricted to only the locations designated by the facility, and must limit time outside of the patient’s room. 
• Will be required to wear a cloth face covering mask during their hospital visit per CDC and CMS guidelines. If a visitor or single designated caregiver does not have a mask, the facility will provide one. 
• We understand this change in policy may be difficult for families, but it is imperative we take additional precautions to keep our patients and community safe. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

 

Facility Status Updates

 

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center

Updated on May 1, 2021

See the latest visitor and guidelines in this PDF, and specifics on the wearing of PPE in this PDF.

Effective May 1, 2021, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center has adopted new visitation guidelines that continue to provide ongoing protection for our patients, employees, and physicians while recognizing the key role caregivers play in the quality of care and outcomes of patients.

Visitors aged 18 and older will be allowed to visit for non COVID-19 patients in the hospital under the following circumstances:

• One visitor at a time will be allowed during the patient’s hospitalization.
• One visitor at a time will be allowed during the patient’s ED Visit.
• One visitor during the day of a procedure until the patient leaves the pre-procedural area.  During the time of the patient’s procedure, the Visitor may be required to leave the facility and will receive a call to return post-procedure.
• A legally authorized representative of the patient.

End of life: In extraordinary end-of-life situations, non-COVID-19 patients will be limited to two adult visitors at a time. COVID-19 positive patients or Patients Under Investigation (PUI) will be limited to one visitor only (for a maximum of one hour). Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration.

Other circumstances may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration.

PLEASE NOTE: All waiting areas will be at limited capacity to promote social distancing.

Guidance for Visitors who meet the visitation criteria:

• Must be 18 years old or older.
• Must pass the screening at the designated entrances which includes:
• No COVID-19 symptoms per CDC guidelines
• Have not traveled to infected areas with COVID-19 in the past 10 days
• Have not been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days
• Must frequently wash their hands, limit interactions with others, practice social distancing, are restricted to only the locations designated by the facility, and must limit time outside of the patient’s room.
• Will be required to wear a well-fitted mask during their hospital visit per CDC guidelines. If a visitor or single designated caregiver does not have a mask, the facility will provide one. 

Until the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided:

• Healthcare workers, visitors, and patients with fever, cough, sore throat, or other COVID-19 like symptoms are not permitted in any area of the hospital, unless seeking care.
• Anyone who has traveled to high-risk areas for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 in the past 14 days are not permitted to visit any area of the hospital, unless seeking care.
• All patients and approved visitors are requested to wear a mask while in the hospital.
• Staff will escort patients to and from appointments if needed. Friends/family will drop patients off and pick them up from the front lobby. 

 

St. Luke’s Health–The Vintage Hospital

Visitors aged 18 and older will be allowed in the hospital under the following circumstances:

• A single designated caregiver will be allowed to visit hospitalized non-COVID patients in their room from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
• One adult visitor per patient will be allowed at the bedside during emergency room visits; this must be the same person throughout the emergency room visit. The 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. visitation guidelines will not apply in the emergency room unless the patient is admitted. If the patient is admitted to the hospital, the 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. guidelines will apply.
• Overnight visitation/stays will require administrative approval.
• Waiting rooms will not be open.
• One identified single designated caregiver per day per patient will be allowed.
• A single care giver can accompany non-COVID patients on the day of procedure and on the day of discharge.
• In extraordinary end-of-life situations, non-COVID-19 patients will be limited to two adult visitors at a time (for a maximum of one hour). COVID-19 positive patients or Patients Under Investigation (PUI) will be limited to one visitor only (for a maximum of one hour). Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration. Other circumstances may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration.

 

St. Luke’s Health The Woodlands, Lakeside, and Springwood Village Hospitals

Effective 12/31/2020 at 6:00 p.m.

Visitors aged 18 and older will be allowed in the hospital under the following circumstances:

• A single designated caregiver acting on the patient's behalf will be allowed to: 
  • Accompany patients on the day of a procedure.
  • Accompany patients on the day of discharge.
• Pediatric, NICU, labor & delivery
• End-of-life:
  • In extraordinary end-of-life situations, non COVID-19 patients will be limited to two adult visitors at a time (for a maximum of one hour). COVID-19 positive patients or Patients Under Investigation (PUI) will be limited to one visitor only (for a maximum of one hour). Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration.
• A legally authorized representative of the patient if unable to fufill their role via technology
• Other circumstances may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration.

Vistiors will not be allowed:

• In high risk of exposure areas such as the Emergency Department.
• Dedicated COVID-19 Hosputal Units.
• On inpatient units unless it is the day of discharge or allowed on a case-by-case basis
• Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration.
• Based on community prevalence and individual facility space considerations, slight variatrions may exist at an individual hospital location. We encourage visitors to remain closely connected to their loved ones through virtual means, includeing Sykpe, FaceTime, and/or phone.

Guidance for Visitors and Single Designated Caregivers who meet the exceptions list:

• Must be 18 years old or older.
• Must wear a mask at all times. If a visitor or single designated caregiver does not have a mask, the facility will provide one.
• Must pass the screening at the designated entrances which includes: no COVID-19 symptoms per CDC guidelines, have no traveled to infected areas with COVID-19 in the past 14 days, have not been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

 

St. Luke’s Health-Sugar Land Hospital

Visitors aged 18 and older will be allowed in the hospital under the following circumstances:

• A single designated caregiver will be allowed to visit hospitalized non-COVID patients in their room from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
• One adult visitor per patient will be allowed at the bedside during emergency room visits; this must be the same person throughout the emergency room visit. The 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. visitation guidelines will not apply in the emergency room unless the patient is admitted. If the patient is admitted to the hospital, the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. guidelines will apply.
• Overnight visitation/stays will not be allowed.
• Waiting rooms will not be open.
• One identified single designated caregiver per day per patient will be allowed.
• A single caregiver can accompany non-COVID patients on the day of procedure and on the day of discharge.
• In extraordinary end-of-life situations, non-COVID-19 patients will be limited to two adult visitors at a time (for a maximum of one hour). COVID-19 positive patients or Patients Under Investigation (PUI) will be limited to one visitor only (for a maximum of one hour). Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration. Other circumstances may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by hospital administration.

 

St. Luke’s Health Memorial Market (St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin, Memorial San Augustine, and Memorial Livingston).

Visitors aged 18 and older will be allowed in the hospital under the following circumstances:

• One adult visitor per patient will be allowed for non-COVID patients. Visiting hours will be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. This includes emergency room patients.
• In extraordinary end-of-life situations, non-COVID-19 patients will be limited to two adult visitors at a time (for a maximum of one hour).  COVID-19 positive patients or PUI patients will be limited to one visitor only (for a maximum of one hour). Exceptions to our visitor policy may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by Hospital Administration.