BayCare Resumes Limited Visitation at its Hospitals Following COVID-19 Closings

CLEARWATER, FL., (Sept. 8, 2020) – BayCare announced that it will resume limited visitation at its hospitals starting Wednesday (Sept. 9), allowing most inpatients to have one visitor a day from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

The change comes nearly five months after BayCare closed visitation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to protect against the spread of the virus.

“We know how important connections to loved ones are for our patients’ recovery and we are delighted to once again safely provide access for that in-person support,” said Glenn Waters, chief operating officer for BayCare, which has 15 hospitals across West Central Florida.

Reductions in both COVID-19 hospitalizations and in the community’s decreasing infection rate has made it possible to provide visitor access, Waters said.

“We have learned a lot since March about how the virus spreads and we have significantly increased protocols to combat it. Now with lower numbers, we can safely welcome visitors on a limited basis,” Waters said.

To ensure the safety of patients, visitors, team members and physicians, BayCare's new policy continues to put a premium on infection control with the following conditions:

• Only visitors 18 or older, who pass COVID-19 screening, will be allowed entry. All visitors must wear a mask during their entire visit.
• Inpatients will be allowed one visitor per day from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., except for the exceptions noted below. 
• Extended hours and provisions are allowed for pediatric, neonatal intensive care, labor and delivery and mothers and newborns. 
• No visitors will be allowed for Behavioral Health or COVID-19 patients.
• Patients arriving for surgeries and procedures will be allowed one visitor during pre-operation and recovery times.
• Emergency Department patients, except for those presenting with respiratory symptoms, will be allowed one visitor once they are placed in their treatment room.
• Special circumstances can be approved by hospital leadership on a case-by-case basis.

These visitation changes are effective at:

Hillsborough County

• St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Tampa
• St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa
• St. Joseph’s Hospital – North, Lutz
• St. Joseph’s Hospital – South, Riverview
• St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, Tampa
• South Florida Baptist Hospital, Plant City

Pasco County

• Morton Plant North Bay, New Port Richey

Pinellas County

• Bardmoor Emergency Center, Largo
• BayCare Alliant Hospital, Dunedin
• Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor
• Mease Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin
• Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater
• St. Anthony’s Hospital, St. Petersburg

Polk County

• Bartow Regional Medical Center
• Winter Haven Hospital
• Winter Haven Women’s Hospital