Sanford Bemidji & Bagley implement visitor restrictions

Contact:

Lindsey Wangberg
Marketing – Sanford Bemidji
218-333-5040 / lindsey.wangberg@sanfordhealth.org

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Due to a recent rise in respiratory illnesses within the region, Sanford Bemidji Medical Center and Sanford Bagley Medical Center will implement updated visitor restrictions. Sanford is enacting these guidelines to protect patients and employees from potentially catching and spreading illness. Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Visitor restrictions will be effective at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan.8. Sanford Bemidji and Sanford Bagley hospitals will put in place the following restrictions for all visitors:

Four visitors are allowed to visit per day.
• It is recommended that only two visitors are in the room at a time.
• All minor visitors must be accompanied by an adult.
• One visitor may spend the night as an emotional support person.

People who are ill or showing symptoms should not visit.
• Visitors recently exposed to a respiratory illness and/or visiting a patient with a respiratory illness must always wear a mask.
• All Sanford Health locations encourage patients to wear a mask if they are showing signs of respiratory illness or have COVID-19.

Special Care Nursery Visitors:
• No more than two people may visit at one time—one of the two people must be a parent/caregiver who is wearing an infant identification band.
• All visitors must be 6 years old or older and always wear a mask in the nursery. Visiting time will be limited to 15 minutes.

Visiting COVID-19 patients in isolation:
• Visitors should be kept to a minimum.
• Visitors should be aware that they can be at risk of COVID exposure while visiting a COVID-positive patient.
• Visitors should only visit the patient room and limit their time spent in other locations within the facility.
• Visitors must continue to always mask while in the facility, including when visiting areas such as the cafeteria or gift shop.
• Visitors should wear a mask when around others for 10 days after their visit and watch for symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

Specific visitation requests may be accommodated at the discretion of the department director.

About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves 1.4 million patients and nearly 200,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 45 hospitals, 211 clinic locations, more than 160 Good Samaritan Society senior living centers, 2,900 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 540 active clinical trials, and nine world clinic locations around the globe. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

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