BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — St. Joseph’s Hospital recently announced revised patient and visitor guidelines that took effect Monday, June 15. 

Visitation to hospitalized patients will be allowed between the hours of noon to 7 p.m. with a limit of one visitor per patient per day.  All visitors will be screened at the registration desk and must obtain and wear a visitor badge at all times, returning the badge upon exiting the building. Visitors must be masked and may not leave the patient room to visit common areas in the hospital such as the café and gift shop. Limited exceptions will be made for pediatrics and end-of-life cases. 

In the OB department, visitors are limited to one adult of the mother’s choice during her hospitalization. Visitors are not permitted in the infusion/chemotherapy area.

Requirements for visitors accompanying a patient for outpatient procedures, surgery and/or emergency department visits also require the visitor to be screened at the registration desk, obtain a badge and be masked at all times. One visitor may accompany a patient to registration. 

 For surgery patients, one visitor will be allowed to escort the patient to the pre-procedure waiting area. Once the patient is called back to the clinical area, the visitor is required to leave the building or wait in the hospital lobby, if the weather causes health issues for waiting in their car. Once the patient’s procedure is complete, the surgeon will call the visitor with a patient update. When the patient is ready for discharge, the visitor will be called to receive instruction prior to staff escorting the patient to the vehicle. 

For PromptCare and Emergency Department patients, one visitor will be permitted for the duration of the patient’s visit.  Other visitors will be asked to wait in their vehicle.  The visitor will remain in the patient’s room for the duration of the visit.  Drinks will be made available as needed.

The registration desk will be open in the main lobby Monday through Friday until 5 p.m.  After 5 p.m. and on weekends, visitors must register in the emergency department. If screening at registration is positive, visitation will not be permitted.