Visitation restrictions in place at KRH and VA facilities
Nurses work in the ER wing at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake FILE)
Kalispell Regional Healthcare is limiting visitation at its hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visitor restrictions were expanded Friday evening at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, The HealthCenter and North Valley Hospital in an effort to “protect the health and safety of our patients, families and staff,” KRH announced in a media release.
The hospitals are restricting visitors to one designated family member per patient, and limiting access to one entry point in each facility.
The expanded restrictions followed the confirmation of COVID-19 in Montana. Four presumptively positive cases were confirmed Friday evening in Gallatin, Yellowstone, Silver Bow, and Lewis and Clark counties.
“We will continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation through recommendations from our infection prevention specialists, state and local health officials and the CDC and update the community as the situation continues to develop,” the hostpital’s media release stated.
Also on Friday night, the Montana VA Health Care System implemented screening measures for signs of respiratory illness and exposure to COVID-19. No one under the age of 18 will be permitted in any VA facility or clinic, and visitation is limited. This protocol will be in place until further notice.
“To be clear, our providers have not encountered anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This is just a precautionary measure,” the VA announced Friday night.
VA patients are asked arrive 30 minutes early for appointments and to come alone unless the patient is in need assistance from a direct caregiver and/or it is medically necessary.
Restrictions were also put in place at the Brendan House care facility in Kalispell as a precautionary measure to protect residents. At Bee Hive Homes assisted-living center in Columbia Falls there are similar restrictions, said supervisor Ashley Samples. Immanuel Lutheran Communities announced new precautionary measures Friday night as well, restricting visitation to essential visitors only.