Visitation Policy

Effective: October 1, 2024

In support of each patient’s rights, Nuvance Health^® allows patients to receive visitors that the patient designates including, but not limited to, a spouse, domestic partner (including a same sex domestic partner), family members, or a friend, for emotional support during their stay. Patients can withdraw or deny such consent at any time. Nuvance Health prohibits discrimination against visitors based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression. Visitors designated by the patient (or support person, where appropriate) do not have to be legally related to the patient and shall enjoy visitation privileges that are no more restrictive than those that immediate family members would enjoy.

Included here:

General Inpatient Care/Partner and Support Person Guidance
Visitation Guidelines for Special Patient Populations, Patients Under 21, Neonatal Patients, Maternity Patients, and Extenuating Circumstances
Guidelines by Hospital
Guidance for Personal Belongings
Outpatient and Medical Practice Visitation Guidance
Emergency Department Guidance
Inpatient Behavioral Health Visitation Guidance
Eucharistic Ministers and Community Clergy Guidance
Food and Drink Guidance
Overall Visitation Policy

General Inpatient Support Person Guidance

Inpatient visitation is permitted for up to 4 care partners/support persons at a time. Visitors are permitted to rotate throughout the day but cannot exceed 4 at the bedside.

Hours are 8 am to 8 pm. One adult may accompany the patient overnight. Restrictions for space may apply.

General Emergency Department Visitation Guidance

Adult Patients: All patients 21 years or older will be allowed one screened care partner/support person. If patient volume is low, ED leadership may permit up to two visitors/support person.

Patients under age 21: The designated two parents and/or guardians for patients under age 21 may be present at all times. No other visitors are permitted beyond two parents and/or guardians.
In a circumstance where the patient arrived with someone other than their support person, a neighbor for example, and their care partner subsequently arrives, that care partner, critical to and knowledgeable about the patient’s care, will be allowed to replace the other support person.

Visitation Guidelines for Patients Under Age 21, Neonatal Patients, Maternity Patients, and Extenuating Circumstances

Inpatient Pediatric and Maternity: These units will follow the standard hospital visitor restrictions of 4 visitors at a time with the ability to swap individuals as desired. Patients may have visitors in their room, including children under 18, during daytime visiting hours. It is required that an additional adult be available at the bedside for any visitors under age 12 to support the child and the patient. Children under 18 are not allowed to stay overnight at the hospital. Visitors may be limited to 2 or fewer at any time based on medical need.

Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Parents and up to 4 visitors are allowed to visit patients on the unit. Visitor names cannot be swapped on the list for the entire length of stay. Two people will be allowed at the bedside at a time. Siblings 5 years or older with proof of vaccination will be allowed at the bedside during specified hours per hospital. Children under age 12 must always be accompanied by an adult in the waiting room. Restrictions may be different by hospital. Visitors may be limited to 1 or fewer at any time based on medical need. Visitation to the NICU may be adjusted based on prevalence of infectious diseases in the community and individual hospital unit needs.

Hospitalized patients under age 21: The designated 2 parents and/or guardians may be present at all times. An additional 2 distinct visitors may join during the unit’s visitation hours daily.

Labor and Delivery Unit Patients: Up to a maximum of 3 visitors are allowed, excluding a trained doula, who can accompany obstetric patients in the birthing room without being counted as a patient’s visitor. The visitors can swap places to allow for more than 3 support persons to participate in a part of the patient’s care. Visitors may be limited to 2 or fewer at any time based on medical need. If visitors are not in the patient room, they should be in the waiting room or off the unit. Patients may have visitors in their room, including children of the patient under 18 during daytime visiting hours. It is required that an additional adult be available at the bedside for any visitors under age 12 to support the child and the patient. Children under 18 are not allowed to stay overnight at the hospital.

Extenuating circumstances: The patient’s care team will determine if extenuating circumstances apply and discuss these with the patient and their support person(s). Extenuating circumstances may include:

Patients in critical condition when death may be imminent: Up to 4 support persons may be designated to remain with patients at bedside. Visitors may rotate.

Patients who have a physical, intellectual/developmental or cognitive disability; communication barriers or behavioral concerns prior to hospitalization; and/or who need assistance due to the specifics of their disability may have one designated support person with them throughout their hospitalization to support their disability-related needs.

Documentation Required for Visitation

Visitors/care partners at Nuvance Health hospitals and Emergency Departments, infusion centers, Same Day Surgery and all Nuvance Health facilities are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated including any eligible boosters.

Proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test result will not be requested or required.