Effective Monday, March 8, 2021, St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP), in accordance with New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) guidelines, will begin offering LIMITED visitation at its hospitals. The move is in alignment with other regional hospitals including Albany Medical Center Hospital and Ellis Hospital.
The joint decision between these hospitals was made due to a decrease in the regional rate of coronavirus cases, which is currently below 2%. Each hospital will implement its own specific guidelines.
SPHP will permit one visitor over 18 years of age to visit an inpatient between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at St. Peter’s and Samaritan hospitals. SPHP will permit one visitor per patient – 24/7 – in its emergency departments at St. Peter’s Hospital and the Samaritan Hospital main and Albany Memorial campuses. SPHP reserves the right to restrict visitor access to its emergency departments depending on periods of high patient volume and other circumstances.
“At SPHP, our patients are at the heart of our mission,” said Michael Finegan, president of Acute Care for SPHP. “We understand the separation of patients and their loved ones during this unprecedented time has caused significant stress and anxiety, for both patients and for our colleagues. We remain committed to ensuring a secure environment of care for all, and look forward to welcoming visitors back to our facilities in a responsible, safe manner.”
Visitors who are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults and those with underlying medical conditions, are strongly discouraged from visiting. Likewise, a planned visit to any patient who is at higher risk of acquiring and suffering significant consequences from COVID-19 should be considered a greater risk than benefit to that patient.
SPHP’s visitation guidelines are aligned and compliant with guidance from the NYSDOH. The DOH or SPHP may adjust visitation policies at any time, based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in a region or county, or for other related reasons.
*Please note this change only applies to our hospitals, not our Continuing Care campuses.
Visitation Hours
- Peter’s Hospital & Samaritan Hospital: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week for inpatients; 24/7 for patients in the emergency departments.
- Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital: Visitation is by appointment only, between the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling 518-382-4500.
Visitation Guidelines
- Patients will be permitted one healthy visitor per day. At Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, patients are permitted one unique visitor for their entire stay.
- The visitor must be 18 years or older.
- All approved visitors will be asked to show ID and screened upon entry to the facility and must pass screening to visit.
- Visits will be limited to no more than 4 hours per day, per patient.
- Appropriate placement and wearing of a face mask is required at all times while in the facilities.
Face Coverings and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Visitors must wear a face mask. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own face mask, preferably one with no logo or writing. If the visitor does not have a face mask or has a face mask with a logo or writing, the hospital will provide the visitor with a face mask at the entry screening station.
- Visitors must perform meticulous hand hygiene while at the hospital.
- Visitors for patients who are on enhanced droplet and contact precautions will be required to wear a face mask and PPE.
- All visitors MUST remain in the patient’s room and keep on the required face mask and PPE for the duration of the visit.
- When visitors leave, they must exit directly the way they entered.
- Visitors are not permitted to use the restrooms in the patient rooms or on the patient floors. Visitors are permitted to use the restrooms in the main lobby areas of the hospitals.
- Visitors who fail to agree to this guidance will be asked to leave the hospital.
Please Note: Separate Visitation Guidelines for the Following Circumstances
- Children admitted to the hospital
- Maternity units
- Patients or residents receiving end-of-life care
- Patients with special needs
St. Peter’s Health Partners continues to offer safe, accessible care in its emergency departments at St. Peter’s Hospital, Samaritan Hospital, and Samaritan Hospital – Albany Memorial Campus. Telehealth services are also a convenient option for patients. To make an appointment or to schedule a surgery, procedure, or in-person visit, please visit: https://www.sphp.com/virtualhealth/.
About St. Peter’s Health Partners
With nearly 12,000 employees in more than 170 locations, St. Peter’s Health Partners is one of the Capital Region’s largest and most comprehensive not-for-profit integrated health care networks, and provides high-quality, compassionate, and sophisticated care to thousands of people every day. St. Peter’s Health Partners is a member of Trinity Health, one of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems. For more information, please visit www.SPHP.com.
