Safety Concerns Lead To Lake Forest Hospital No-Visitor Policy

LAKE FOREST IL — As part an ongoing effort to protect patients, physicians, staff and the community, Northwestern Medicine, which includes Lake Forest Hospital, has implemented a no-visitor policy, which went into effect on Monday. The policy has been implemented at all of the medical group’s outpatient and in-patient facilities, according to a Northwestern Medicine spokeswoman.

There are, however, exceptions to the no-visitor policy, especially in cases when it may have long-term negative health impacts for the patient, Northwestern Medicine announced. Those exceptions include:

· Pediatric patients under the age of 18 (limited to one visitor/companion 18 or older)

· Neonatal ICU patients (limited to two visitors 18 or older, one at a time)

· Compassionate care, including pastoral care visits and end-of-life patients (limited to one visitor 18 or older)

· Laboring and post-delivery mothers (limited to one visitor 18 or older)

· Patients requiring transportation home after an emergency department visit or outpatient visit or procedure (limited to one visitor/companion 18 or older)

According to the policy, all patients and visitors will be asked if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or flu. Visitors indicating or showing signs of illness during this screening process will not be allowed to visit or accompany the patient. Patients and visitors who complete the screening will be given a badge to proceed. Patients and visitors without a badge will be asked to return to the screening location to complete their screening.

Northwestern Medicine will also temporarily no longer allow service animals in the emergency department or inpatient areas. If you are coming for an outpatient visit, please contact the appointment location to confirm whether a service animal will be allowed.