BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Starting Friday, Catholic Health will temporarily be ending visitation at its hospitals and nursing homes.
President and CEO Mark Sullivan says the move comes as the Western New York region sees a spike in COVID-19. Previously, visitation began again at several Catholic Health hospitals on June 20 with “enhanced safety measures."
“That’s not a requirement. We believe it’s out of an abundance of caution given the diseases spread in this region. We want to continue to protect our associates and our patients,” Sullivan told 7 Eyewitness News Reporter Nikki DeMentri in an interview Wednesday afternoon.
He continued, “It’s not going to be well received by the community meaning they want to visit their loved ones. If its end-of-life concern — of course we’ve always honored that — but we really need to protect the patients that are in our facilities, as well as the associates that are doing wonderful heroes work at the bedside.”
Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case circumstance, including end-of-life care, partners of maternity patients and for essential support persons of patients with special needs.
The temporary visitation policy applies to the following facilities:
· Kenmore Mercy Hospital
· Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
· Mount St. Mary’s Hospital
· Sisters of Charity Hospital and its St. Joseph Campus
· Father Baker Manor
· McAuley Residence
· Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV
· St. Catherine Labouré Healthcare Center
