Hospitals tighten visitation policies

St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson has tightened its visitation policy in an effort to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 and influenza.

The hospital is asking that patients only bring one care partner with them during visits, and only visitors over age 18 will be allowed.

St. Joesph also asks people with a cough or fever not to come to the hospital unless they are seeking medical care.

St. Luke Community Healthcare in Ronan is restricting visitation to St. Luke Extended Care until further notice. The hospital is also closing its workout facility in Physical Therapy to the public. Only scheduled patients who are healthy will be able to access all workout areas until further notice.

Kalispell Regional Healthcare also expanded its visitor restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kalispell Regional Medical Center is not allowing visitors. Exceptions are only for parents, end-of-life situations, and essential caregivers.

There is also a temporary closure of the Summit Medical Fitness Center, The Westshore Medical Fitness Center and the Polson Medical Fitness Center.

This closure includes all facility programs and the SPARKs program. Clinical therapies located at the Summit (including physical, occupational therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehab) will continue to operate.

Last week, Kalispell Regional Healthcare instituted a Hospital Incident Command structure for the national pandemic. This structure allows hospitals to adjust business operations while working with health officials to ensure that medical activities are shaped to address all pandemic impacts.