Visitor Policy

Visitor restrictions will be determined by infection control in conjunction with hospital leadership and will follow state or local guidance if stricter regulations are required.

1. All Potential Visitors must:
   • Enter through the designated areas of the hospital.
   • Greeter will ask visitor to self-screen for COVID symptoms or new risk factors by reviewing information on poster displayed at entrance- see policy Attachment I. Greeter will ask visitor if he/she has any questions. (state or local guidance may require stricter process for screening, refer to local mandates)
   • Visitors below 18 years of age may be allowed into the hospital if they are children of a patient and accompanied by an adult.
   • Visitors and patients will be provided a hospital-issued facemask before entering the facility.
   • Hand sanitized upon entering and leaving the facility and any patient room.
   • Maintain social distancing while in the facility.
   • Remain in the patient’s room during the visit.
      
2. Patients may have 2 visitors at any one time of the day.
    
3. In compassionate care situations, including but not limited to end-of-life situation, decisions about visitation should be made collaboratively with the patient and loved ones, as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis.
    
4. Hospitals may continue to support alternative electronic methods for communication between patients and all other visitors, such as Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp or Google Duo.
    
5. Visitors must adhere to the following guidelines:
   • People waiting to visit a patient should wait outside the patient’s room in a designated waiting area with social distancing maintained until the time of their visit.
   • To ensure social distancing while visiting, only one visitor should enter the patient’s room at a time.
   • No time limit to visit if approved by hospital leadership.
   • Exceptions include: 
     1. End-of-life patients- as to number of visitors at one time.
     2. Transitional Care Units- see hospital policy IC.LTC.01 Long term care
     3. Other Special Circumstances not defined above. Must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
         
6. Visitation for COVID confirmed or PUI patients is at the discretion of the local Hospital leadership based on the patient’s condition.
    
7. Emergency Departments: Visitation guidelines are as stated below
   • Effective from 12/30/2022, visitors are temporarily restricted from visiting the emergency department. Because support persons are not considered visitors, they will be allowed for patients with needs, physical or intellectual disabilities. 
   • Restrictions are due to the recent surg in the number of COVID and Non-COVID patients in the emergency department, as well as tight space in the unit.
   • Opportunities for restriction relaxation will be reviewed on regular basis. 
      
8. Behavioral Health Units: Visiting hours are 1p-4p daily
   • Visits are scheduled in 30-minute intervals to allow for as many patients as possible to have visitation
   • One visitor per patient at a time on the unit; maximum of three concurrent patient visits at a time on the unit
   • Visits must be scheduled in advance with a staff member in the Visitation Log
   • When scheduling a visit, first and last name as well as a phone number must be documented in the log in case notification is required
     Location for Visitation can occur:
   • All general adult behavioral health units: Dining Room
     • Must be wiped down after each use
   • ABU ONLY: In patient’s room 
     • Door may be opened or closed depending upon patient acuity
     • Safety checks will continue to be completed
   • Visitors are screened at the hospital front door when entering hospital
     Visitor must sign in on the Sign In book at unit attesting to not having any symptoms or have tested positive for Covid within 5 days 
     Visitor must: 
     • Patients and visitor will wear facemask at all times during visit covering nose and mouth 
     • Secure all belongings including cell phone
     • Maintain social distancing during visit
       • Any visitor who does not wear proper PPE or cannot follow required protocol will be asked to leave immediately
   • If Covid positive patients are on the unit, every effort will be made to continue visits to Covid negative patients based on the assessed risk. In this case, visitation may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
      
9. Please note: Patients with Physical or Intellectual Disabilities: Support persons will be allowed for patients with physical of intellectual disabilities, regardless of the patient’s COVID status. There are no restrictions on visiting hours. Support persons are not considered visitors.
   Support persons must:
   • Meet clinical criteria used for general visitation, i.e., pass COVID-19 screening. The screening includes a temperature (manual or subjective) and symptom check, as well as no known COVID diagnosis within the past 5 days, at least 24 hours fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications, and improved symptoms.
   • Use PPE appropriate for the patient they are supporting. In the event the patient is COVID positive or suspect positive, the support person must use hospital-provided PPE.

VISITATION Summary:

• Inpatient units: 2 visitors will be allowed per inpatient at any one time
• Ambulatory patients: 1 visitor or assistant per patient to accompany the patient to an ambulatory procedure or test. (If a patient arrives with someone to assist them, that person is considered “the visitor”. Additional visitors are not allowed.)
• Emergency department: No visitors.
• Birthing Center: The birth partner plus 1 additional visitor at a time.
• Behavioral Health: No visitors are allowed for behavioral health patients in the emergency department or on the unit
• Pediatric surgical patients: 2 adults are allowed to accompany a minor for a scheduled procedure.

Please note:  Exceptions to any of these can be made by the Nursing Supervisor, Infection Control Practitioner, or Hospital leadership.

Last updated 12/30/22