Effective Monday, April 25, St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP), will be limiting visitation at its hospitals. This is in response to increased prevalence of COVID-19. Under guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control, both Albany and Rensselaer counties are now classified as “High” in both community level and transmission rate.
In response, SPHP will be restricting hospital visitation to ONE unique visitor per day beginning April 25. Compassionate exemptions and special visitation guidance will remain in place for certain areas and/or circumstances. Current visitation hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Peter’s and Samaritan hospitals, and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, will also remain in place at this time.
In addition to the visitation change, SPHP will resume pre-procedural testing for all impacted patients. Beginning April 28, any patient scheduled for a procedure at one of our hospitals will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing three days prior to their scheduled procedure.
“At SPHP, the safety of our patients and colleagues remains paramount for us,” said Steven Hanks, M.D., acting CEO, chief clinical, and chief operation officer for SPHP. “We all hoped COVID-19 would not remain the threat it is today, but unfortunately that is proving to not be the case. This measure is necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus and ensure a safe environment of care for all.”
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 at this time. 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.
In accordance with NYS Department of Health requirements, all visitors are expected to wear a face mask at all times in our facilities. Visitors will be asked to show ID and have their temperature checked upon arrival and must be screened every single time they enter the hospital.
The SPHP Visitation Program for Hospitals is 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.
For detailed visitation guidance, including a list of compassionate exemptions and special circumstances, please visit our website, www.SPHP.com.
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.
