Foundation Health Partners (FHP) eases restrictions for visitors at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (FMH) starting Monday, June 1, 2020.

As a preemptive measure, FHP began restricting visitors at FMH in response to the first COVID-19 cases in Alaska in March. Low case counts in Alaska and updated state health mandates have enabled the facility to allow at least one visitor per patient.

“Love and support is an important part of healing,” said Chief Nursing Officer Sarah Martin. “It was very hard to come to the decision to restrict visitors, so we are happy to be able to have that support again for our patients.”

Patients will be allowed one to two visitors depending on the department and the nature of the visit. Visitors must be over 18 years of age and adhere to FHP safety precautions. Precautions include symptom and temperature screening upon entry, masking while in FHP facilities, proper hand hygiene and social distancing. Specific departments may have additional requirements that visitors will be notified of once in the facility.

“Both patients and visitors will have to adhere to the same requirements upon entry and while in the facility,” Martin said. “This is for everyone’s safety. Patients, visitors and staff.”

Martin says that while FHP is eager to allow visitors back into the facility that visitation restrictions are subject to change.

“Patient safety is our top priority,” Martin said. “We aren’t out of the woods yet, so if things change we may have to implement more restrictions.”

VISITOR ACCESS PER DEPARTMENT: 

• All Patient Care Areas. All areas of FMH will allow one visitor per patient as a support person. All patient care areas will allow one visitor for the purpose of acquiring admission information necessary for a safe plan of care (medication documentation, medical history, etc.) as well as safe discharge, for the amount of time necessary to complete these actions.
• FMH Inpatient Pediatrics. One or two visitors must be a parent or legal guardian of the child.
• Labor and Delivery. One visitor may accompany the mother.
• NICU. Mother and visitor may visit the infant.
• Surgery/Procedures. One visitor per patient for procedures requiring sedation.
• End of Life. One or two visitors may visit. Individuals cannot be substituted or switched.