Visiting Hours and Guidelines

VISITOR POLICY – APRIL 3, 2023

Your health and well-being are our top priority. Please read the following before visiting our hospital.

All visitors/ support persons are encouraged to wear a mask while in the hospital. All visitors are highly encouraged to stay in the room, minimize exit and re-entry into the facility, and maintain physical distancing when possible in other locations within the facility, such as the cafeteria vending machines, waiting areas, or newborn nursery.

Natividad does not provide on-site COVID-19 testing.

** For testing locations, visit

Monterey County Covid19 or Monterey County Vaccines

GENERAL VISITATION – ALL HOSPITAL

Visitors must be healthy and free from symptoms of illness including:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty
Headache
Sore throat
Runny nose or congestion
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
New loss of smell or taste
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches

Visitors are welcome! Each unit of our medical center has visitation rules specific to the needs of our patients. Each unit has a welcome letter that describes the number of visitors, ages, and times of visitation allowed on the unit. Please see your welcome letter for the most accurate visiting information.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

One visitor for adult patients and two visitors for pediatric patients will be permitted at bedside

ADULT INPATIENTS

All admitted patients are allowed two visitors to be at bedside at a time for visitation
Visiting hours are from 10:00 am-8:00 pm every day
Visitors and support persons should stay in the patient’s room except for eating, resting and bathing needs

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients

Visiting hours are 24 hours per day
Two support persons may visit at the same time (if physical distancing can be done)

Pediatric patients (UNDER 18)

Visiting hours are 24 hours per day
Two parents or legal guardians may stay overnight at the child’s bedside when census and capacity allows (if physical distancing can be done)
One additional visitor may alternate visitation with the parent/guardian

Labor and Delivery (L&D) patients

All patients are allowed two visitors to be at the bedside at a time for visitation
Visiting hours are 24 hours per day
One birth partner
One additional visitor
One doula

Maternal Infant Unit (MIU) patients

Visiting hours are 24 hours per day for the support person wearing the baby birth band.
One 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.
One additional visitor is allowed for visitation between 10am – 8 pm every day.

SURGERY PATIENTS

Up to two visitors are permitted until the patient is taken into the surgical prep area
Up to two visitors when the patient is in recovery and preparing for discharge

OUTPATIENTS: SPECIALTY & CLINIC VISITS

Natividad Medical Group, D’Arrigo Family Specialty Clinic, Lactation Clinic, Antenatal Testing Clinic, Newborn Clinic, Care Center: Women’s Services, Cardiology Clinic, Laboratory, Bariatric Surgery, Audiology, Imaging Services, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Child Advocacy Center, High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Clinic, Diabetes Education Center, Outpatient Therapy (Occupational, Physical, Speech)

Outpatients are allowed one visitor, two visitors for pediatric patients

General Visiting Guidelines
Visitors shall enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences. Your right to have visitors may be limited or restricted when visitation would interfere with your care and/or the care of other patients. The number of visitors and length of visitation may be limited on specific units. Natividad will not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of sex, economic status, educational background, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, medical condition, marital status, registered domestic partner status, genetic information, citizenship, primary language, immigration status (except as required by federal law) or the source of payment for care.

ICU Visiting Hours

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Visiting Hours
In order to provide the best care possible for your family or friend, the hospital has established visiting hours.

Visiting hours are from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, with the exception of staff change-of-shift from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Hand-hygiene (washing hands and/or using hand sanitizer) is expected for every visitor as they enter and exit the room. This is to prevent infection.

The health and wellbeing of our patients is our primary concern, and we know that your visit may be the best medicine. However, too many visitors can tire those in our care. For this reason, we limit visitors to two at a time. One designated family member may choose to stay with the patient around-the-clock.

For your loved one:

Do not visit if you feel ill
Do not bring children under the age of 12 (Please know that this may change during flu season )
Children 12-16 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times
One designated family member may choose to stay with the patient around-the-clock
Refrain from using cell phones. Please silence phones while visiting
Do not leave your personal belongings unattended
To ensure patient privacy, please remain in the patient’s room when visiting
No flowers or balloons are permitted
Visitors may not bring food and/or eat in the patient rooms

Women & Children’s Visiting Hours

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:
1. Children visiting in isolation rooms must be in good health and fit into the Personal Protective Equipment
2. Siblings of the patient with no overt symptoms of active disease may visit
3. The sibling must be accompanied and supervised by an adult
4. Siblings may be allowed in the playrooms with the patient, if space and staff allow