As COVID cases rise, Parkland reduces visiting hours on hospital inpatient care units
Individuals strongly encouraged to get their COVID-19 vaccinations
Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, beginning Friday, Dec.
31, Parkland Memorial Hospital will reduce visiting hours to 1 to 4 p.m. daily on inpatient care
units. At this time, visitation is limited to one authorized visitor in single-occupancy rooms. All
visitors must be designated and approved by patients/families in advance and visitors’ approval
will be confirmed by Guest Services staff at the lobby entry. Those not on the patient/family
approved visitor list will not be allowed in the hospital. In addition, patients will only be allowed
in the building in which they have an appointment. They cannot go back and forth between
Parkland buildings.
Parkland leaders are also asking that members of the public seeking COVID-19 testing due to
exposure or mild symptoms avoid its emergency room and urgent care center and instead seek
testing at a pharmacy, doctor’s office or dedicated testing site to assure vital resources for critical
care emergencies remain accessible. A list of Dallas County COVID-19 testing sites can be
found here.
Parkland leaders are strongly encouraging those who have not yet received their COVID-19
vaccine to do so as more unvaccinated people are being hospitalized with the dangerous omicron
variant at rates similar to the delta variant spike that occurred earlier this year.
“It’s simple, people need to get vaccinated because this surge in hospitalizations due to COVID19 is preventable,” said Joseph Chang, MD, Parkland’s Chief Medical Officer.
Individuals can make an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccination at one of Parkland’s
Community Oriented Primary Care health centers by calling 214-590-7000 between 7 a.m. and 7
p.m., Monday through Friday.
Visitation Guidelines:
- Visiting hours will be from 1 to 4 p.m. daily.
- At the hospital entrance, visitors will be screened for fever, cough and any exposure to
known COVID+ persons within the last 14 days. Visitors with any positive responses will
not be allowed to visit.
- All visitors are required to wear a mask and to cover their nose and mouth at all times.
Visitors not wearing their mask correctly may be asked to leave the hospital.
- Visitors will not be allowed to wait in any public spaces such as waiting rooms, cafeteria or
Starbucks lobby.
- Visitors will not be allowed to eat in any patient’s room unless permission is given by the
Charge Nurse for a special circumstance.
- All end-of-life visits will remain flexible, as dictated by the patient’s condition.
- Visitors will not be permitted in any of the outpatient clinics, unless a patient has mobility
issues.
For further information about COVID-19, please visit www.parklandhospital.com/covid.
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