Franciscan Health Crown Point Enhances Visitor Restrictions To Prevent Spread Of Coronavirus

CROWN POINT, Indiana - Franciscan Health Crown Point, 1201 South Main Street, is offering outpatient testing on a limited basis for novel COVID-19 coronavirus from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, outside the Emergency Department.

Due to limited testing supplies we must reduce daily testing volumes and prioritize our most at-risk patients. A physician’s order and pre-registration is required to be tested. Patients must call (219) 681-6912 prior to arrival to pre-register. To minimize unnecessary exposure, testing will be completed in the patient's car. Patients should not enter the Emergency Department for testing. The patient's physician will notify them with test results within three to four days.

We ask the public's understanding that only a set number of tests are available each day and that volume will depend on available supplies. If testing is no longer available, we encourage you to seek out another facility to receive testing. The public should also be aware that if tested, they will be required to self-quarantine as mandated by the state.

COVID-19 is a viral illness, and treatment is rest, drinking fluids and medication that reduces fever.  You can protect yourself from transmission of the virus by washing your hands often, avoiding close contact with others, staying home if sick, covering coughs and sneezes and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily.

All visitation continues to be suspended throughout Franciscan Health hospitals unless listed in the following exceptions for healthy visitors.

Hospitals will continue screening all visitors to determine if they are at risk for COVID-19 or other communicable diseases. Those who do not pass screenings will not be permitted to enter the hospital. All visitors will be required to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and practice good hand hygiene. Visitors must be 18 or older.

Inpatients: Non-COVID-19 patients may have 1 designated visitor per day to help provide continuity and maximize safety. Ideally, visitors are those identified as involved in on-going caregiving/support for the patient and will be able to assist with education and caregiving once the patient is ultimately released from the hospital. COVID-19 inpatients may not have visitors.

Labor & Delivery: A laboring woman will be allowed one visitor, a spouse or partner during labor and delivery. In addition, a labor coach will be allowed.

NICU: Mother and significant other will be allowed to visit child in NICU with daily screening for temperature and COVID-19 symptoms required. Failure to pass screening will result in a denial of visitation. (In extraordinary and end-of-life situations, the facility may allow an additional 1 - 2 visitors to visit, provided proper social distancing and PPE usage are followed.)

Emergency Room: Patients may have 1 designated visitor per day to help provide continuity and maximize safety. Ideally, visitors are those identified as involved in on-going caregiving/support for the patient and will be able to assist with education and caregiving once the patient is ultimately released from or admitted to the hospital.

• Victims of sexual assault have the right to an advocate, as stated in SEA 146. If requested by the patient, a victim advocate may be present during a medical forensic exam.

Outpatients/Ambulatory: Non-COVID-19 patients may have 1 designated visitor per day to help provide continuity and maximize safety. Ideally, visitors are those identified as involved in on-going caregiving/support for the patient and will be able to assist with education and caregiving.

Surgery: Non-COVID-19 patients may have 1 designated visitor per day to help provide continuity and maximize safety. Ideally, visitors are those identified as involved in on-going caregiving/support for the patient and will be able to assist with education and caregiving once the patient is ultimately released from the hospital.

Non-COVID End-of-Life: In non-COVID end-of-life situations one visitor will be allowed for the duration. A second visitor will be allowed on a rotating basis with no more than two visitors at a time. Franciscan Alliance Pastoral Care is part of the care team and is allowed to visit. External pastoral care are not considered part of the care team and are not permitted.

COVID End-of-Life: In COVID end-of-life situations one visitor will be allowed to visit. The visitor must wear full PPE while in attendance. Franciscan Alliance Pastoral Care is part of the care team and is allowed to visit, wearing full PPE while in attendance. External pastoral care are not considered part of the care team and are not permitted.

Minors & Non-Decisional Patients: One visitor will be allowed only for patients that do not have actual or legal decisional capacity. Those include persons under 18, persons with dementia, and persons whose condition precludes obtaining an accurate history or decision making.

This is a public health issue, and it is our intent to protect the health and safety of our patients, our visitors and our employees. In doing so, we can reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, flu and other seasonal-related medical issues.

Those with general questions about coronavirus can find resources online, which are updated regularly, including:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov
• The Indiana State Department of Health at www.in.gov/isdh
• Franciscan Health at franciscanhealth.org/COVID-19.