The Desimone Levee on the Green River failed and is under repair. The hospital is above the flood zone and currently in no danger of flooding. We evacuated our Time Square and Kent Station Clinics and our Lind Avenue locations. Several locations are experiencing staffing issues due to severe traffic impacts. Impacted patients are being contacted to reschedule appointments. Please be safe, do not drive or walk through standing water, and call 9-1-1 if you need emergency evacuation assistance.
Click here for King County Road Closure Real-time Tracker.
South Tower Access Restrictions
After 8 PM, Only Badge-Authorized Visitors Allowed South Tower Elevator Access to Patient Rooms—What You Need to Know About this New Policy Beginning Sept. 14
During Valley’s COVID-19 response with its strict visitor limitations and masking requirements, restricting elevator access to badge-authorized visitors only will further increase safety and security for employees, patients and other visitors.
How can a visitor gain access to elevators and South Tower floors after 8 PM? A visitor can request visitor access through the security officer at the Winter Garden desk. Security will call the patient’s unit charge nurse for permission. If approved, the security officer will log the visitor’s information and issue a visitor badge allowing access to the specific floor only. After the visit, the visitor may call the elevator to the floor and the elevator will return to the hospital lobby. The badge must be returned to the Winter Garden desk after the visit.
Why has Valley not implemented an after-hours visitor access before now? In earlier times, the need was not overwhelming. Restricting after-hours visitor access is appropriate during Valley’s COVID response.
Is there a process for visitors to use the elevators during non-restricted access times? No. The South Tower visitor elevators are “free access” from 8 AM – 8 PM seven days a week, as long as the current limited visitor policy and masking requirements are followed.
What hours are the elevators under restricted access? The elevators are closed to visitors, except those who are badge-authorized, 8 PM – 8 AM, seven days a week.
If a visitor’s access request is denied by the unit but the visitor persists, what is the process to manage the situation? Security will notify the CAR, explain the situation and if necessary, the CAR may contact the unit for clarification. The unit charge nurse will make the final determination.
What is the process for visitors when a security officer is not present at the Winter Garden desk? Can the lobby ED security guard authorize visitor access? A sign will be placed on the Winter Garden desk stating the officer will be back shortly and requesting patience. It is preferred that the ED lobby guard not be involved in this process, but it will be situational.
How does staff access the elevators during non-visitor hours, between 8 PM – 8 AM? During non-visitor hours, employees must use their VMC ID badge in the elevator to access any patient floor. Employees need to make sure no unauthorized visitors (i.e. without a visitor badge) try to “piggyback” ride the elevator.
What is the process of notification to security a visitor piggybacks onto the elevator with a staff member accessing the South Tower? Staff should politely direct the visitor to the security desk and say, “I’m sorry, it’s after visitor hours. You’ll need to get a visitor badge from security to ride the elevator to the patient rooms.”
What if a visitor gets off on the wrong floor when their visitor badge identifies they should be visitor on another unit? First, the staff member should ask the visitor what floor they are going to—the access card issued by security will only allow them access to the floor they have been cleared to access. Then offer to ride down the elevator with them to help them get the correct badge from security.
Can staff still use the stairs to access the floors during restricted access times or elevator only? Staff may use the stairs or the elevators during restricted access times.
During non-visitor hours, should an employee ask a visitor already on a unit without a badge to go get a visitor badge? No. As long as the visitor does not leave the unit during non-visitor hours, no badge is necessary. A visitor without a badge is allowed to ride the elevator down to leave.
Will the rest of the units have restricted access to their units after hours? Not at this time—this is a small test of change that will be evaluated.
What’s the cleaning process for visitor badge keys and lanyards? The visitor badge keys and plastic lanyards will be wiped down with wipes at the Winter Garden desk.
Can the visitor leave the visitor badge with unit staff to return to the Winter Garden? No. The visitor is responsible for returning the badge back to the Winter Garden desk so it can be logged as returned.
When will restricted visitor access hours be implemented for the rest of the hospital inpatient units? Once the go-live on the South Tower restricted visitor access is tested and refined, Phase 2 will include restricted visitor hours and an after-hours visitor badge requirement for the rest of the inpatient units. The process may be slightly different and include scannable stickers, similar to the ED lobby.