Abrazo Health hospitals announced its visitation policy will be relaxed to allow one designated visitor to accompany patients having a scheduled elective procedure or one visitor per patient in the emergency department.

The visitor policy update includes Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital in Phoenix, Abrazo Arrowhead Campus in Glendale, Abrazo Central Campus in Phoenix, Abrazo Mesa Hospital in Mesa, Abrazo Scottsdale Campus in the Northeast Valley and Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear.

Visitors will be screened for fever, respiratory symptoms or travel to high risk locations prior to entering the hospital, and are required to wear visitor identification, a facemask, and sanitize their hands. Specifically designated waiting areas allow physical distancing for designated visitors and include additional cleaning protocols.

Any visitor not meeting screening criteria will not be permitted to enter the hospital. Previous hospital visitation restrictions for COVID positive patients remain in place, allowing one visitor only for childbirth or end-of-life patients. All staff, physicians, patients and visitors are screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering the hospital.

“Our COVID SAFETY standards were developed with key principles in mind to maximize safety — maintain vigilance of all potential risks, create separate care pathways and take a multi-factor approach to maintaining a safe environment for patients and visitors,” explained Abrazo Health Chief Medical Officer William Ellert, MD.

Abrazo’s COVID SAFETY standards include:

Distinct COVID SAFETY Zones and COVID CARE Zones: Separate areas with clear signage and protocols

Rigorous physician and staff protocols: Daily screening, universal masking and access to PPE

Heightened sanitization: Enhanced cleaning of surfaces and plenty of hand sanitization stations

Access to COVID-19 testing: In-house, rapid testing for patients, physicians and staff who require it

Precautions for patients and visitors: Provision of facemasks, hand sanitizer and physical distancing

Enhanced virtual access: Virtual care, remote monitoring as well as connectivity with loved ones