Medical City Healthcare announced it was taking additional proactive measures to help ensure the health and safety of patients, caregivers, colleagues and the communities served by its 16 North Texas hospitals with new visitor restrictions that go into effect today.

Guidance for Visitors
To ensure a safe care environment, visitors are not permitted with the exception of individuals considered necessary to the patient’s care.
Visitors deemed necessary to the patient’s care include:
• 1-2 parents or guardians for pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients
• 1 support person for labor and delivery patients
• 1 support person for patients with disabilities or impairments warranting assistance
• 1 support person/driver for patients in outpatient surgery
• 1 support person for critically ill patients who may be at end of life

Visitors must be over 16, meet screening criteria and receive an armband prior to entering the facility.

“Our priority is keeping our patients, clinicians and the community safe while providing excellent care,” says Erol Akdamar, FACHE, president of Medical City Healthcare. “These enhanced visitor restrictions are consistent with social distancing measures implemented in the communities we serve and will help safeguard our patients and colleagues.”

Experts encourage virtual visits via technology such as FaceTime and other apps to keep in close contact with and provide emotional support to hospitalized loved ones. Medical City Healthcare will also provide iPads to patients who may not have their own device.

Virtual Care COVID-19 Screenings Offered Free of Charge
Medical City Virtual Care provides a convenient screening option for people who are concerned that they may be at risk for COVID-19. The COVID-19 screening visit is free of charge at MedicalCityVirtualCare.Zipnosis.com. Appointments are not necessary and the site is easily accessed from a smart phone or computer 24/7. The virtual care platform enables North Texans concerned about the virus to be screened while allowing them to stay at home and prevent the spread of illness. If an individual is low-risk based on the COVID-19 screening assessment results but would like to continue with a virtual visit, they may do so for a $45 fee.

Visitors and patients are encouraged to check the Medical City Healthcare website before they visit as visiting hours and the number of visitors allowed may change. For additional information and ongoing updates on COVID-19, please refer to local and state health departments and the CDC’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) hub at CoronaVirus.gov.