Lifespan hospitals to allow limited visits beginning Monday
PROVIDENCE Lifespan is relaxing its policy for visitors to Rhode Island, The Miriam, and Newport Hospitals, in keeping with state Health Department guidelines.
Beginning Monday, adult patients may identify two visitors for the duration of their hospital stay who can enter during designated visitation hours.
At Rhode Island and Newport hospitals, the two visitors may enter together. At The Miriam Hospital, one visitor at a time may enter, unless the visitor requires an escort.
Adult patients receiving end-of-life care may have two visitors at a time for 30 minutes. Additional visitors may enter after that, always for 30 minutes at a time.
The vote to recommend was on this motion:
“Decision: Consider a recommendation to hospitals to begin vaccination of their high-risk staff 16 years of age and older who do not have a history of anaphylactic reaction to any of the components of the Pfizer vaccine.”
During the emergency meeting, committee members discussed eligibility, timing and other issues, some as yet unresolved. Information from the federal government and manufacturers continues to change as the largest mass-vaccination effort in U.S. history unfolds, prompting Mihalakos to say to members: “Thank you for riding this roller coaster with us!”
The latest guidance to states from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came by way of a CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity call on Sunday. Key points, according to the subcommittee, included: