KETCHIKAN, Alaska —PeaceHealth Ketchikan has adjusted its visitor policy to allow for limited visitor access until COVID-19 is no longer a public health threat. This does not apply to New Horizons Long Term Care where no visitors are allowed.
Patients who are not COVID-19 suspect or positive are allowed one designated visitor during their stay. Two visitors are allowed on a case-by-case basis for:
Minor patients (parents or legal guardians only)
Patients at the end-of-life
Other exceptions may be made at the discretion of the PeaceHealth Ketchikan clinical care team.
We recognize that having a loved one by a patient’s side is important during a hospital stay. We believe these changes best balance comfort for our patients and families while still effectively safeguarding against the spread of COVID-19 for our patients, caregivers and the broader community.
PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics will continue to limit visitors except for those accompanying patients needing assistance. Examples of patients who may require assistance include those with physical or cognitive impairments. In addition, visitors will be permitted in those clinical situations where a visitor will be integral to the decision making and information exchange process, for example, for Obstetrics, Palliative Care, Oncology and major procedural discussions.
Consistent with current safety measures at PeaceHealth facilities, all visitors will be screened for fever and COVID-19 symptoms before entering the facility. Visitors must also wear a mask during their entire visit, clean hands frequently, practice social distancing and refrain from unnecessary travel within the facility, including to cafeterias and snack bars, the gift shop and chapel.
Visit peacehealth.org/coronavirus for more information about safety measures at PeaceHealth, as well as other education and prevention resources related to COVID-19.
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About PeaceHealth
PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 900 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
