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General Information: St. Joseph Medical Center

  • Updated: Nov. 14, 2022

    This hospital is at visitation level 2 (visitation with restrictions). We recognize it is a difficult time for our patients and their loved ones. These restrictions are very important for the health and safety of our patients and staff, and we appreciate your understanding and support.

    Before you visit

    All visitors must comply with screening and mask requirements when entering the building. Visitors with symptoms will not be allowed to enter, and visitors must wear approved masks for the entirety of their stay.

    There is no in-person visitation permitted for COVID-19 positive and suspected patients.

    At this time, hospital visitors are allowed based on the following circumstances:

    • We return to no visitor limits with the following exceptions:
      • Visitors must be at least 12 years old 
      • Family Birth Center remains at two visitors per stay
      • Two visitors at a time for ICU level patients
    • Visitation hours remain from 9am - 9pm
    • Overnight visitors will be allowed on a case-by-case basis per department approval
      • Any guest staying past 9pm must wear an identification sticker 
        • Identification stickers will be administered at the security booth in the Emergency Department
      • Any visitor without a sticker past 9pm will be asked to leave
    • While in the facility, visitors (including overnight visitors) must wear a mask at all times, including in the patient’s room. Visitors who refuse to comply will be asked to leave.

    Any approved visitors

    • Must use the approved, designated visitor entrance
    • Will be asked to complete hand hygiene upon entry
    • Must wear a hospital-provided mask the entire time while inside the building, including in a patient’s room
    • Masks must be tight-fitting and completely cover nose and mouth
    • Visitors can wear their clean, well-fitted surgical mask, an N95 respirator, or KN-95 mask within VMFH facilities
    • Cloth masks are not permitted at this time. Visitors with cloth masks will be asked to change into a hospital-provided mask.
    • Are encouraged to maintain physical distancing (at least six feet apart from others)

    Patients who do not comply may have visitation access revoked. Please contact the hospital or your medical provider if you have any questions about the visitor policy.

    Virginia Mason Franciscan Health/Franciscan Medical Group Clinic visitor restrictions

    • Visitors are discouraged unless assisting a patient. Please contact your provider or the clinic with questions about their policy.
    • All individuals must wear a clinic-provided mask the entire time while inside the building.
    • Please contact the clinic before arriving for your appointment if you need of a COVID-19 test, or if you have COVID-19 symptoms. Symptoms and exposure guidance include:
      • Fever
      • Cough
      • Shortness of breath
      • New loss of taste or smell
      • Close, in-person contact with someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus within the past 14 days
    • If symptoms are severe, call 911 or go directly to one of our Prompt or Urgent Care locations or Emergency Services departments.

ATM

A cash machine is located on Level 1, near the main lobby and the Gift Shop.

Phones

Patients and visitors may quietly use personal cellular phones inside the hospital so long as the devices do not interfere with patient privacy or the hospital̠s healing environment.

A phone is located in each patient̠s room. For local calls, dial 88 and then the phone number. For long-distance calls, dial 0 to reach the operator who will place the call for you. All long distance calls from patients̠ rooms are toll-free.

There is a pay phone in the main lobby of the hospital.

Cafeteria and deli

Our patients are provided meals approved for their unique health conditions by a team of health care professionals and prepared with each patient̠s treatment and recovery in mind.

Cafeteria

Visitors to the hospital may purchase snacks or hot meals in the cafeteria, located on the Ground Level. The cafeteria is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Deli

The deli is on Level 1, near the main lobby and Admitting department. It is open Monday through Friday and serves hot and cold foods along with refreshments.

Lost and found

Lost and found items are taken to the hospital̠s Security Office.

Parking

Valet

$5 fee per vehicle, per visit for valet parking service. $2 fee per vehicle, per visit with a disabled placard. The valet parking locations are:

Main entrance

  • 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday
  • Will retrieve vehicles until 7 p.m.

Emergency entrance (co-located with Heart and Vascular entrance)

  • 6 a.m. to 4 a.m. the following day
  • Monday through Saturday morning
  • Will retrieve vehicles until 6:30 a.m. (Monday through Saturday morning)

Self

Several self-parking locations are located around and near the hospital; each is well marked with signage and within easy walking distance of the hospital and outpatient center. Parking is also available in the outpatient center̠s garage, which can be entered between I and J streets, immediately west of the outpatient center.

Additional assistance

If you have a non-emergency need, such as locating a parked car, accessing a locked parking facility or for valet retrievals on Saturday and Sunday, call Security at 253-426-4888.

Visiting hours

Regular visiting hours are generally from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily for all areas of the hospital.

After regular visiting hours, visitors to the hospital must enter through the Emergency Services department and check in at the nurse station. From there, a security officer escorts visitors to the patient̠s room.

To protect the health of babies, there are times, such as during an epidemic of pertussis (whooping cough), children under 18 years old may not enter the Family Birth Center unless they are siblings of the baby. Thank you for your cooperation.

Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult when visiting the hospital.

Visitors may be required to follow certain procedures, depending on the condition of the patient. The nurse staff will provide specific instructions for visiting these patients.

Wi-fi

Patients and visitors with laptops and other wireless devices will find fast, convenient and free broadband service in the Emergency Services department, cafeteria and select waiting areas.

Users should note the connection is not encrypted and users assume all responsibility for access.