St. Joseph's Hospital - Breese Patients & Guests Visiting Hours

Visiting Hours

Visitor restrictions are subject to change at any time to address the health needs of our communities in central and southern Illinois.

Visitors MUST wear a mask at all times while in the hospitals, per CDC guidelines, and should expect to be screened.

Effective Monday, August 9, visitors will now be permitted as follows:

Current Visitor Guidelines

Emergency Department

Adult patient: One visitor who must stay in the patient's room for duration of visit.
Pediatric patient: Two parents and/or guardians who must stay in the patient's room for the duration of visit.

Inpatient units:

Women and Infants Center: Two support person who must stay the same for the duration of the hospital stay.
Adult inpatient: One visitor per patient per day during the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Pediatric inpatients: Two parents or guardians allowed.
End-of-life patients: Two visitors at a time.

Surgery (inpatient and outpatient): One visitor in the patient’s room for the duration of the surgical procedure.

Outpatient diagnostic and therapy services: One visitor may accompany the patient or wait in designated waiting areas.

Patients with intellectual and/or developmental disability or cognitive impairments: One support person.

*COVID-19 positive patients or those being tested for COVID-19 will not be allowed visitors.

NO VISITORS ALLOWED for patients under investigation for possible COVID-19 diagnosis and those confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Approved support persons must be over the age of 18 and will continue to be screened upon entering the facility for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure. Support persons who have any of the following symptoms or are not feeling well will NOT be allowed to visit:

Fever (greater than 100.0F) or chills
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Cough
Sore throat
Loss of sense of taste or smell
Exposure to a known COVID-19 person the past 14 days.
If the support person had COVID-19 he/she may not come to the hospital until 14 days after onset of symptoms or positive COVID-19 test AND and least 24 hours fever free with improvement in symptoms.

Family members and loved ones should provide nursing staff with their contact information and may call the hospital’s main number to check on their loved ones. Virtual video visits with your loved one are also an option.

If you know someone in the hospital, we do encourage you to call their room for a telephone visit, use your cell phones to text, call or video chat with them.

Loved ones can be checked on by calling St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese at (618) 526-4511. An operator will connect you to patients’ rooms after you provide some information.

Family and support persons should make sure to provide the nursing staff with their contact information.

During Flu Season

During Flu season, St. Joseph’s Hospital may restrict visitors of hospitalized patients.

Children age 14 years and younger and anyone with flu like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, and/or a cough should refrain from visiting at any time. If it is absolutely essential for a visitor with these symptoms to visit, kindly wear a mask which is provided at all public entrances of the hospital.

Please use hand sanitizer or soap and water to wash your hands before and after visiting a patient. Thank you for participating in the recommendations to protect your health and the health of the community.

We ask that you follow these simple courtesies during all visits:

Visitor hours are generally from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some areas of the hospital have different visiting hours. Please check with the appropriate department for specifics.
Patients are asked to welcome no more than two visitors at a time. Special arrangements for additional visitors may be made with a nurse.
Children under the age of four are discouraged from visiting in patient care areas, except for the Women and Infants Center, where sibling visitation is allowed.
Children under the age of 12 may not be left unattended and are restricted from isolation rooms and critical care.
Visitors must be appropriately attired (shirts and shoes required) while on hospital property.

Smoking Policy

St. Joseph's Hospital campus and its affiliated medical buildings are tobacco-free and the use of tobacco products by employees, patients, medical staff, students, contracted personnel, auxiliary, volunteers, visitors, vendors and tenants is prohibited. This policy applies to all hospital owned and managed buildings, properties and grounds.

Considering Patient Privacy

St. Joseph’s appreciates visitors considerations of our patients’ right to privacy. At any time while visiting friends or loved ones, visitors may be asked to leave the patient room in order for the physician or nursing staff to privately discuss the patient’s care.