North Oaks Health System Implements No Visitor Policy

[HAMMOND, La.]—– In support of Governor John Bel Edwards’ request to practice social distancing to contain the spread of COVID-19, North Oaks Health System has implemented a no visitor policy at all facilities effective Saturday, March 21 at 5 p.m.

Compassionate exceptions may be made as follows:

• Comfort measures for end-of-life care will be directed by the patient’s nursing staff and limited to four immediate family members. If the patient in question is in isolation, then one immediate family member will be allowed to visit as directed by the nursing staff. Swapping out of visitors will not be allowed in either situation.
• Laboring patients will be allowed one support person with no swapping.
• Same Day Surgery patients will be allowed to have one person accompany them to drive them home after discharge with no swapping. This person will be screened at the door and required to stay in the patient’s room at all times and depart with the patient upon discharge.
• Pediatric patients can have one parent stay with them in their room at all times. Parents cannot swap out.
• The nursing staff will work with families of hospitalized patients to identify one family member to receive telephone updates about the patient two times daily.

Drivers who accompany patients to clinic visits or outpatient testing will be required to wait in their vehicle and communicate with staff via cellphone.

“North Oaks’ health care heroes are unwavering in their commitment to protect the health of our patients, workforce and the community in these unprecedented times,” affirms Michele Sutton, the health system’s president and chief executive officer. “These measures will remain in place until the transmission of COVID-19 is no longer a threat.”

For COVID-19 updates, visit the following websites:

• North Oaks Health System at www.northoaks.org/coronavirus
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov
• Louisiana Department of Health at www.ldh.la.gov
• Tangipahoa Parish Government at www.tangipahoa.org
• Livingston Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness & Homeland Security: www.lohsep.org