Visitor Policy
Our visitor policy is designed to keep our patients, visitors, and staff safe. It may change based on the prevalence of communicable diseases.
General Guidelines:
Good Health: All visitors must be in good health. If you show signs of illness, you cannot visit.
Sanitize Hands: Please sanitize your hands when you enter the hospital and before entering and after leaving a patient's room.
Masks/PPE: You may be asked to wear a mask or other PPE before entering a patient room, depending on the patient's condition.
Age Restriction: Visitors under the age of 12 should not visit.
Visitor Types:
Primary Visitor: Patients can choose a primary visitor during their stay, who can visit without limits on frequency or duration.
Non-primary Visitors: Non-primary visitors may need to limit their visits based on the patient's health and preferences. The charge nurse may set visitor limits based on the patient's needs.
For Visitors of Patients who are COVID-19 POSITIVE
- Patients being treated for COVID-19 will be allowed to have 1 primary visitor per stay.
- Visitors to areas where patients with COVID-19 are isolated should be limited to essential visits such as those helping to provide patient care or translation, or those caring for pediatric patients.
- Visitors with high risk for severe illness from COVID-19 such as older adults and those with underlying medical conditions, should be strongly discouraged.
- Visitors will need to use PPE. Visitors should not share PPE with other family members. Visitors will be educated by the nursing staff on the use of PPE on as as needed basis.
Specific Departments & Services
Emergency Room
Primary Visitor: Patients may have one primary visitor during their stay.
Minors: For children under 18, both parents can visit.
End of Life Care: Patients receiving end-of-life care may have up to four visitors.
All visitor adjustment may be made in the ER by the ER nurse or provider depending on patient acuity, census and staffing.
Surgery
Primary Visitor: Patients may have one primary visitor who can stay with them in pre-op but must wait in the waiting room during surgery.
Minors: No children under 12 are allowed in pre-op. Children under 18 may be accompanied by two parents or guardians.
End of Life Care
Visitors of patients in hospice, palliative, or end-of-life care may have exceptions to the policy, including cultural or religious requests.
Policy Exceptions and Limits
The hospital may limit or refuse visitation for reasons such as:
- Violating hospital policies
- Interference with procedures or treatments
- Patient objection
- Legal prohibitions
- Patient custody.
The hospital may refuse visitation if it creates a safety risk, is counter-therapeutic, or disrupts care.
Contact and Information
For a copy of this policy, request one from hospital staff or view it in public areas of the hospital. This policy is under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer and Compliance Director.
