Published: Thursday, December 28, 2022
LANSING, MI – E.W. Sparrow Hospital and Sparrow Specialty Hospital are easing their inpatient visitor policy and lessening restrictions on seeing patients.
Effective immediately, visitors during regular visiting hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) are no longer required to check in at the registration desk in the hospital lobby. Only two visitors will continue to be allowed in a patient room at any given time. Visitors must be 12 and older on all units and those ages 12 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
COVID-positive patients are now allowed unlimited visitors a day, with a maximum of one at a time. Previously, only two visitors were allowed per day. Additional PPE must still be worn and is available prior to entering the patient’s room.
The changes are aimed at better supporting our patients and their medical needs since an important aspect of care and healing is having loved ones present when possible. OSHA and MIOSHA are also no longer enforcing COVID screening rules and there is a general industry trend of lessening visitor restrictions. The revised policy only impacts E.W. Sparrow Hospital in Lansing and Sparrow Specialty and not our remaining Community Hospitals.
Some restrictions remain in place to protect our patients, caregivers, and visitors. All visitors must be free of all signs and symptoms of illness; should perform hand hygiene when entering/exiting the building and the patient room, and as needed; and are required to properly wear face masks at all times. If a mask is not being properly worn, the individual will be asked to leave the facility and may lose their visitation privileges.
Sparrow Health System reduced the number of visitors for the first time in 2020 to help limit the potential spread of COVID as we experienced record high number positive patients and caregivers. Sparrow is proud to be Mid-Michigan’s leader in COVID care.
To learn more about visiting the hospitals, visit Sparrow.org/Patient-Resources.
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Sparrow is Mid-Michigan’s premier health care organization that includes hospitals in Lansing, Charlotte, St. Johns, Ionia and Carson City as well as Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group, the Michigan Athletic Club, and AL!VE. Sparrow is affiliated with Michigan Medicine through the Sparrow Children’s Center and with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 Caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and Patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.