Dallas’ Parkland Hospital, MedStar restrict non-patients due to coronavirus concerns
Hospitals and ambulance companies are tightening policies for visitors and non-essential personnel.
Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas has implemented a “no visitor” policy effective immediately at its main hospital. Parkland also strongly discourages visitors at all of the health system’s outpatient specialty clinics and health centers in its network.
MedStar ambulances, in some cases, will no longer allow family members and friends to ride to the hospital with a patient in an attempt to limit the exposure of non-patients to contagions in a confined space and also preserve the limited supply of personal protective equipment for emergency personnel.
“MedStar is instructing field staff to discourage non-medical personnel from riding in the ambulance with patients who the field providers feel may have a contagious illness,” MedStar said in a news release.
“We are doing this out of an abundance of caution during the COVID-19 outbreak,” MedStar’s Matt Zavadksy said in a release. “Once the current crisis has passed, we plan to resume our normal procedures of allowing family and friends to ride in the ambulance with the patient.”
Parkland asked that the public not come to Parkland’s emergency room or urgent care emergency center for COVID-19 testing.
Testing for the coronavirus at Parkland is only available by appointment and for current Parkland patients who “meet the medically necessary criteria” and have a Parkland doctor’s order.
Parkland patients can contact the COVID-19 Patient Line at 214-590-8060.
“It is extremely important for the health of our patients, staff and the entire community that everyone heed the requests from Parkland to restrict visitors at our hospital and clinics,” Parkland’s chief clinical officer Dr. Roberto de la Cruz said. “We understand that for many families with children out of school, this policy can pose a challenge, but it is vital that we restrict visitation to ensure that we keep people safe and healthy. We need the cooperation of all of our patients during this critical public health emergency.”
