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LUTCHER— With the COVID-19 onset in the United States, St. James Parish Hospital has been preparing its facility to maintain the safety of its team, patients and community.

Due to the confirmed presumptive cases in Louisiana, St. James Parish Hospital has enacted an emergency task force to plan updates to hospital operations based on the latest guidelines by the CDC and Office of Public Health.

A new visitation policy has been implemented, effective immediately, which limits the number of visitors per patient, restricts the number of entry points into the facility and implements screenings for all visitors.

• Visitation hours will be limited to Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No new Inpatient visitors will be allowed after 5 p.m. and only visitors ages12 and over will be permitted.
• Entry points will be limited.
• All visitors, patients and essential vendors will be screened at designated entry points (symptom and temperature check + questionnaire).
• Visitors entering with Outpatients and ER patients will be limited to one per patient.
• Inpatient visitation will be limited to no more than two visitors per day.
• Patients with contact precautions will not be allowed visitors (exceptions apply).
• Visitors and patients may also be required to wear personal protective equipment.
• Visitors who are sick or do not meet screening criteria will not be allowed to enter the facility.
• The hospital dining room will be temporarily closed to the public.

Also as a reminder per CDC guidelines, St. James Parish Hospital is requesting that any patients experiencing certain respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath AND fitting certain criteria such as having been exposed to a person with confirmed COVID-19 OR having recently traveled from an area with an ongoing spread of the virus, call ahead before visiting Urgent Care (225.258.2040) or coming in for a test or medical appointment.

Call a primary care physician’s office or Urgent Care (225.258.2040) to discuss symptoms over the phone. Staff has been trained to help and guide you on steps moving forward.

Those who meet both conditions above and need to call 911 or visit an ER due to a medical emergency should notify dispatch personnel or staff that they are being evaluated for the virus. If possible, put on a facemask before coming into contact with medical professionals.