Mercy Joplin Amends Visitor Restrictions
Hospital patients allowed one visitor per day
JOPLIN, Mo. (June 25, 2021) – Due to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the community, Mercy Joplin will return to limiting each hospital patient to one visitor per day between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., beginning Monday, June 28. Mercy Carthage is expected to evaluate its visitation policy soon.
“The health and safety of our patients, co-workers, and community are always our top priority, no question,” said Jeremy Drinkwitz, president of Mercy Hospital Joplin. “When case numbers were low, we were able to ease our restrictions somewhat and allow more visitors, which we know is important to patients and their families. Now that we have almost as many COVID-19 inpatients as we had at any point in the pandemic, we’re taking steps to make sure we’re as safe as possible.”
Experts believe the region’s low vaccination rate and presence of COVID-19 variants are to blame for this recent increase. The policy will be in effect for the foreseeable future. This is the same policy in place at Mercy Springfield, which is experiencing an even more severe surge of COVID-19.
“Our great doctors and nurses, and all of our co-workers, have fought this pandemic for 15 months,” Drinkwitz continued. “We know we will beat it, and this is a step we need to take at this time to do so. Most importantly, we need the community to step up and get vaccinated. We know the vaccines are safe. We know they’re effective. We have yet to see a single vaccinated patient land in our ICU. Please, roll up your sleeve.”
Vaccines are available at Mercy Joplin for everyone age 12 and up. Appointments can be scheduled here, and walk-ins are available Wednesdays and Fridays.
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems for four consecutive years by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy is one of the nation’s most highly integrated, multi-state health care systems, including more than 40 acute care, managed and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic, and rehab) hospitals, convenient urgent care locations, imaging centers, and pharmacies. Mercy has 900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, more than 4,000 Mercy Clinic physicians and advanced practitioners, and 40,000-plus co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services, and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. In addition, Mercy’s IT division, Mercy Technology Services, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients from coast to coast.
