Catholic Health Visitor Guidelines
Visitation is not available at our St. Joseph Campus or the St. Joseph Post-Acute Center in Orchard Park.
To help protect the safety of patients and visitors, the following guidelines will be in place:
- Only one visitor per patient, age 18 or older, will be permitted to visit at a time;
- All visitors must complete and bring a copy of the Catholic Health Visitor Form.
- All visitors will be required to complete a health screening (questions and temperature check), wear a face mask at all times, clean their hands with soap/water/hand sanitizer before entering and after leaving a patient room, and practice social distancing throughout the visit;
- Maternity patients are permitted one visitor during their stay;
- Emergency department patients may be accompanied by a visitor in the treatment room for a designated period of time based on the care team’s judgment;
- Visitation is not permitted for patients receiving care on a restricted COVID unit, subject to end-of-life exceptions. Virtual visits are available for patients diagnosed with COVID-19;
- Individuals are not permitted visitation if they have an active COVID-19 diagnosis; are under investigation for COVID-19; have been in contact with a person actively infected with COVID-19 within 10 days; are currently exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms; or are otherwise under quarantine for any reasons relating to New York State COVID-related advisories.
- Exceptions may be made to these guidelines for extenuating circumstances, such end-of-life visits or for patients with special needs (children, disabled individuals or those with cognitive impairments).
MATERNITY VISITOR GUIDELINES
With the presence of Coronavirus in Western New York, all hospital visitation is temporarily suspended except for a single support person for maternity patients. Under these special circumstances, one visitor will be allowed per patient and all visitors will have to submit to a verbal health screening and temperature scan. We understand how difficult it can be to not be able to a visit loved when they are in the hospital and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. These restrictions are in place to help limit the spread of Coronavirus in our community and protect the health and well-being of our patients and care staff. If you have a loved one in the hospital, you can be connected to their room phone by calling:
- Mercy Hospital of Buffalo – (716) 826-7000
- Mount St. Mary’s Hospital – (716) 297-4800
- Sisters of Charity Hospital – (716) 862-1000
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please let a member of our care team know if you have any additional questions. These guidelines are in place for everyone’s safety.
We reserve the right to alter them or make exceptions at the discretion of our care team. Visitors who do not comply, will be asked to leave.
Visits are not available at this time. Families will be notified when visitations can resume.
To schedule an appointment for a Resident Visit, please contact the appropriate person below- messages can be left on voicemail and they will get back to you to schedule a time to visit:
- Father Baker Manor – Social Work Office – 716-667-0001, ext. 50245
- The McAuley Residence – Activities Department 716-447-6600, ext. 78024
- St. Catherine LaBoure – Activities Department – 716-862-1456
- Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV – Activities Department 716-819-5292
Skilled Nursing Facilities Visitor Guidelines
Catholic Health Skilled Nursing Facility Visitation Guidelines (PDF)
- General visiting hours are from 10 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm Monday through Saturday.
- Residents/patients can have up to two visitors at a time and no more than one visitation per week to ensure all have the opportunity to visit with loved ones. Requests for additional times can be made based on availability.
- All visits must be scheduled in advance. It is recommended to call the facility at least 24 hours in advance to make arrangements. Alternate dates/times may be necessary to accommodate all requests.
- Visits are not permitted if a resident or staff member in the facility has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
- No more than 20% of the total number of residents in each facility can have visitors at any one time.
- Visitors must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test performed no more than 72 hours prior to visit and complete a health screening/temperature check when entering the facility. Visitors who have been fully vaccinated for at least two weeks but not more than 90 days, who are visiting a resident who has also been fully vaccinated, do not need to provide proof of a negative COVID test. You may NOT visit if you have had COVID-19 exposure or symptoms in the past 14 days. Individuals with temperatures 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater are not permitted to visit.
- Residents/patients with active or suspected cases of COVID-19 or under a quarantine period are not permitted on-site visitors.
- Visitors must clean their hands with soap and water or apply hand sanitizer before and after visiting.
- Visitors will be provided with a mask and a screening sticker. Both must be worn at all times. Visitors must practice social distancing (at least 6 feet apart) at all times.
- Visitors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.
- Visits must take place in designated outdoor areas, weather permitting. During periods of inclement weather, limited indoor visitation is available.
- Visitors must remain in designated visitor areas at all times.
- Visitors are not permitted to bring in food, beverages or other personal items for residents as part of their visit. Arrangements for the delivery of personal items should be made with the facility social worker.
- Visitors must provide their name and contact information each time they visit.
A detailed visitor policy is available at each site. Please let a member of our care team know if you have any additional questions.
These guidelines are in place for everyone’s safety. We reserve the right to alter them or make exceptions at the discretion of our care team. Visitors who do not comply, will be asked to leave.