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Community Health Network tightens visitor restrictions

For release on March 19, 2020

No visitors allowed at hospital sites with few exceptions

UPDATED 3/19/20

No visitors will be allowed to enter any network site unless they are accompanying a minor patient or a patient who needs assistance. In those instances, the visitor may accompany the patient only as far as the door to the facility unless a medical professional believes the patient needs the guest’s assistance within the facility. If so, the visitor can assist the patient to their location, but cannot stay with the patient and must leave the inside of the facility.

Exceptions will be considered in the areas of OB/delivery and end-of-life scenarios. See additional details for those areas.

For the safety of patients and caregivers, no packages, gifts, food, etc., will be allowed into our facilities.


Indianapolis, IN—In an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), influenza, and other infectious diseases and to protect patients and employees, Community Health Network announced for the second time this week it is tightening visitor restrictions at its hospital sites.

Beginning Friday, March 13, no visitors will be permitted at Community Hospital North, Community Hospital East, Community Hospital South, Community Heart and Vascular Hospital, Community Behavioral Health, Community Howard Regional Health and Community Hospital Anderson.

Exceptions will be considered in the following areas where a patient may receive one visitor per room:

  • Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)*
  • OB/delivery
  • Pediatrics
  • Emergency Department (ED)
  • Inpatient surgery (day of surgery only)
  • Outpatient surgery
  • Outpatient provider appointment
  • End of life situations
  • Behavioral Health treatment/discharge planning
  • Discharge plan coaching (day of discharge)

*Both parents may be permitted in NICU.

A patient being directly admitted to the hospital may also be allowed a visitor at the time of admission only.

Community Health Network Chief Physician Executive Dr. Ram Yeleti explains COVID-19 and Community’s response in this video:

Earlier this week Community announced it would enhance flu restrictions already in place and screen all visitors entering its hospital sites to determine if they were at risk for COVID-19. Those who did not pass screenings were not permitted in the hospitals.

More information about COVID-19 and future updates can be found at eCommunity.com/covid19.

Contact: Kris Kirschner, kkirschner@eCommunity.com, 317-621-7073

About Community Health Network
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Community Health Network has been deeply committed to the communities it serves since opening its first hospital, Community Hospital East, in 1956. Now with more than 16,000 caregivers and 200 sites of care, Community Health Network puts patients first while offering a full continuum of healthcare services, world-class innovations and a new focus on population health management. Exceptional care, simply delivered, is what sets Community Health Network apart and what makes it a leading not-for-profit healthcare destination in central Indiana. For more information about Community Health Network, please visit eCommunity.com.

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Community Health Network