English
Spanish
Visiting hours for Women & Children’s services vary depending on the specific department. Hours and guidelines are below.
Labor & Delivery and Mother-Infant Unit
- Visitors and support person(s) are welcome in Labor & Delivery and the Mother-Infant Unit at any time with the exception of staff change-of-shift times (6:45 am to 7:15 am and 6:45 pm to 7:15 pm) to ensure patient confidentiality during bedside hand-off and report
- All visitors must perform a three-minute hand wash before touching the infant
- The father and/or designated support person is encouraged to stay with the patient in Labor & Delivery at all times
- The father or designated support person is encouraged to stay the night if the patient so desires. Overnight stays may need to be limited for patient privacy and/or room capacity at the discretion of nursing.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Parent(s)/guardian(s) are welcome to visit 24-hours per day
- On admission, visitation guidelines and health screening will be reviewed and signed by a parent/guardian and the registered nurse
- Parent(s)/guardian(s) may stay the night, space permitting, at the discretion of the nurse. The NICU parent sleep room or other empty room in Women & Children’s Services can be offered for sleeping
- All visitors must perform a three-minute hand wash prior to touching the infant
- Parents of the baby and visitors should not visit in the NICU if they are acutely ill
- Siblings younger than 12 years of age will not be allowed to visit during Respiratory Virus Season (October 1 through March 31) for the safety and protection of the infants
- Sibling visitation will be approved pending clearance of the following:
- The nursing staff is responsible for screening children to ensure that they are not demonstrating symptoms of illness or have a history of recent exposure to a contagious disease. This information is included on the Sibling Visitation Agreement Form
- Children displaying any symptoms will be unable to visit
- Siblings will be banded with a sibling band once the NICU child visitation agreement is completed and signed by the mother or significant other/caregiver
- Siblings must be accompanied by an adult
- Disruptive children may be asked to leave the NICU at the discretion of the registered nurse
- The nursing staff will explain to children what they will see and hear while visiting the patient
- Visitors other than the banded mother/significant other will need to be accompanied by the mother/significant other, unless they have been specified in writing to visit without their presence on the NICU Infant Security & Visitation Form. Staff will verify that these are approved visitors by checking their photo ID and keeping a copy in the chart
Pediatrics
- Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) may visit at any time. Two parents or legal guardians may stay overnight at the child’s bedside when census and capacity allows. All visitors are screened and identified at the front entrance of Pediatrics. This health assessment includes screening for: cold, cough, fever, rash, and diarrhea. Visitors displaying any symptoms will be asked not to visit while they are ill. A mask may be worn for those stating that allergies are causing their symptoms
- A maximum of FOUR people may visit a patient at the same time. This number may be decreased if patient safety, age and/or health issues become evident
- Visitors may be asked to leave the patient’s bedside to accommodate the necessary care of the patient or if their behavior is disruptive to other patients, visitors, or the unit
- During Respiratory Virus Season (generally October 1 to March 31), visitors will complete a screening questionnaire daily that will be reviewed by staff
- Family members of known or suspected tuberculosis patients will be cleared for visitation after evidence is presented to one of the Infection Control or Infectious Disease physicians to confirm that they do not have active disease
- Visitors under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times
- Visitors are never allowed to handle children other than their own
- Siblings:
- Children visiting in isolation rooms must be in good health and fit into the Personal Protective Equipment
- Siblings of the patient with no overt symptoms of active disease may visit
- The sibling must be accompanied and supervised by an adult
- Siblings may be allowed in the playrooms with the patient, if space and staff allow
