Ascension Via Christi no longer allowing visitation with few exceptions

As of noon Monday, Ascension Via Christi Hospital will enact additional visitation restrictions designed to protect patients and staff as COVID-19 has reached Southeast Kansas and a growing number of surrounding counties.

This includes the emergency department in Fort Scott, which is also no longer allowing visitors. Exceptions for the following units, where one visitor will be allowed in:

• Labor and Delivery

• Pediatrics

• Pre- and Post-operative Care

These visitors must meet the screening criteria being employed at the entry points, which for visitors are limited to the main lobby, ER and, at St. Francis, second-floor entrance from the parking garage.

End-of-life visitation needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Everyone else is encouraged to lend their support through the use of virtual platforms, such as Facebook or Skype.

"We appreciate the role family plays in the healing process and the importance of the presence of loved ones during family milestones," Randy Cason, president of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, said. "However, our first priority continues to be protecting our patients and staff and helping slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community."