COVID-19
Your health and safety are our top priority.
Before visiting St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, please be aware that the Seton Entrance and ED Entrance are open. The Saint Margaret's Center entrance will be closed to patients until further notice.
Any patient presenting with a temperature of 100.4 or above will not be allowed to continue into the hospital and will be instructed to follow-up with their primary care provider. However, patients arriving to the Emergency Department will be seen, regardless of temperature.
St. Elizabeth's Medical Center is taking additional, necessary preparations to ensure patients can receive compassionate care in a safe, carefully managed environment – with confidence and without fear.
Our Safe and Ready program consists of a rigorous five-point standard ensuring patient safety, confidence and convenience:
- Expanded hours will allow previously cancelled procedures to be scheduled as quickly as possible.
- Any COVID-19 related care takes place in designated areas away from other patients and their families.
- The Emergency Department is reorganized to be a safe place to treat all emergency patients.
- A stringent cleaning policy has been implemented throughout the hospital.
- A strictly controlled visitor and mask policy is required for patient safety.
You can rest assured that we have made the necessary preparations to care for you in a safe, controlled and professional way.
We’re here, and we’re ready to provide the care you need.
Important Information About Visiting Restrictions
Out of an abundance of caution, effective December 4, we will implement visitor restrictions. This is in response to the increased presence of COVID-19 in our community and is designed to further protect our patients, their families and our staff.
We remain ready to serve all of your health care needs and have taken the necessary steps to ensure patients can receive care in a safe environment.
Our stringent safety measures include: mandatory wearing of masks, social distancing in waiting areas, and vigilant cleaning in all areas, which includes the use of EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectants validated for use against COVID-19. We also pre-screen all patients scheduled for procedures, and screen everyone before they enter the hospital.
VISITOR RESTRICTIONS EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 4, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Exceptions may be made in certain circumstances:
- Maternity and Labor and Delivery Units: Mothers admitted to labor & delivery and the mother/baby unit are limited to one (1) support person.
- Visitors to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are limited to the mother and one (1) support person.
- Pediatric patient visitors will be limited to one (1) parent/guardian.
- Other extenuating circumstances (such as hospice and end-of-life care) will also be considered based on the best interest and needs of the individual patient. All exceptions must be approved by the care team.
- Please note: For patients with physical and intellectual disabilities, one (1) support person over the age of 18 is permitted. Support persons must pass our screening process, and there are no restrictions on visiting hours for support persons.
Visitors or caregivers qualifying for these exceptions must:
- Meet clinical criteria used for general visitation, i.e., pass COVID-19 screening. The screening includes a temperature and symptom check, at least 24 hours fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications, and improved symptoms.
- Use PPE appropriate for the patient they are supporting. In the event the patient is COVID positive, the support person must use hospital-provided PPE.
- Wear a face mask for the duration of their visit and are encouraged to bring their own masks; surgical masks will be provided to visitors who don’t have their own. Scarves, bandannas, and handkerchiefs are not allowed. Refusal to wear a mask will result in the revocation of visitation privileges.
Everyone on Steward properties must have a mask on, including patients. We ask for your understanding and appreciate your cooperation in our commitment to keeping our community safe.
Additional Considerations:
- Emergency Department/Outpatient Appointments: No visitors will be allowed in these areas or their waiting rooms. Designated exceptions apply with the approval of clinical staff.
- Surgical Patients: No visitors unless the parent of a child/minor having a procedure. Certain approved escorts will be allowed in certain circumstances with permission from the care team. Approved escorts will then be asked to wait outside of the hospital until the recovery period is complete and the patient is ready to depart.
While we are sensitive to the difficulties facing loved ones of hospitalized patients, our health care team must keep our patients and staff safe during this unprecedented health emergency.
We encourage family members and friends to use alternative ways to interact with their loved ones, including phone calls, Facetime and Google Duo.
Non-essential personnel, such as sales vendors, who do not provide direct care will be restricted from entering the facility.
We thank you for your cooperation.
COVID-19 Testing at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
- We do not currently offer walk-in testing at this time. However, if you have severe symptoms, our emergency department is safe and ready for immediate assistance.
- Patients with symptoms are evaluated in a secure area separate from other medical emergencies.
- If you have mild symptoms or think you may have contracted COVID-19, please self-quarantine and call your healthcare provider first to schedule an appointment for testing. Your provider will guide you to the best location for testing depending on your needs.
- At this time we are only accepting SMG patients who have an order from their Primary Care Physician for on-site rapid testing via the following:
| Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) Clinic | Drive-Thru Testing |
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Location: St. Margaret’s Pavilion Drive up the Nevins Street entrance. Parking is available in designated ILI Clinic Parking spots outside of the St. Margaret’s Pavilion. Upon arrival, call (617) 779-6368 to register. You will be greeted at the entrance and directed to the ILI Clinic. Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm SMG referral needed |
Location: Parking lot behind St. Margaret’s Drive up the Nevins Street entrance and continue straight past the visitor parking garage (Garage B) and St. Margaret’s building. Hours: Monday, Wednesday from 10:00am – 4:00pm and Friday from 10:00am – 2:00pm SMG referral needed |
- COVID-19 antibody tests are available at the Quest Diagnostics location on site (11 Nevins Street, Suite 204). An order from your doctor is required prior to scheduling.
- If you think you may have contracted the virus but are asymptomatic, please contact your primary care physician for further guidance.
- Additional testing sites in the state of Massachusetts can be found here.
Steward Health Care