HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Regional Medical Center announced today that the potential spread of the coronavirus has necessitated restricting access to the hospital effective Wednesday.
Ken Johnson, president and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said public access will be limited to two entrances and visitors will be limited to one per patient.
“The hospital’s main entrance will be used for patients scheduled for outpatient surgery and visitors,” Johnson said. “Only one visitor per patient will be allowed and no visitor under the age of 14 will be allowed access to the hospital. Pediatric patients can have two visitors. All visitors will be screened upon entering the hospital and are required to check in with staff on the unit they are visiting.”
Other hospital restrictions include:
• Outpatient entry hours will be 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes one caregiver for each patient.
• Visitor entry hours are between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
• The cafeteria and walking tunnels are also closed to the general public until further notice.
• The Emergency Department entrance will remain open but will be restricted to physicians and patients seeking emergency care. Patients seeking emergency care will be allowed one caregiver or family member.
Johnson said any exceptions to the new rules on visitors will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
“These are not normal times and we realize these restrictions may be stressful, but they are necessary to protect the health and safety of our patients and staff,” Johnson said. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we thank everyone for their support. In collaboration with our community healthcare colleagues, we are taking a thoughtful and balanced approach to this health crisis.”
Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is an entity of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System. Other entities are Horizons Mental Health Center, Hospice & HomeCare of Reno County, Health-E-Quip and Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation.