Visitor Policy - Yellow
Saint Joseph Health System cares for the body, mind and spirit, and is dedicated to helping you and your loved ones keep in touch during their hospitalization. We encourage you to stay connected using your personal devices such as smartphones, tablets or computers.
Visiting hours are from 10am through 7pm, daily.
Click here for more information on how to stay connected to loved ones.
Everyone must wear a mask and will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19.
- Adjustments to the number of visitors may need to be made based on safety for the patient, visitors, and/or ability of caregivers to provide care.
- Must be age 18 or older.
- If the father of a newborn or pediatric patient is under the age of 18, he will be allowed to visit.
- Must be free of symptoms of a respiratory infection.
- Must present for a screening at a facility entrance during visitation hours:
- Must wear an appropriate mask, which covers both the nose and mouth at all times, during their entire visit.
- Visitors who fail to wear a mask during their entire visit will be asked to leave the building.
- Must wash hands and maintain appropriate social distancing.
- Siblings are allowed to visit during normal visiting hours in Obstetric and Pediatric Units only. Masks are required for siblings older than 2 years of age.
- In end-of-life situations that are not COVID-related, six (6) simultaneous adult visitors may be allowed per patient.
- Visitors may switch out.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- Visits may be permitted outside of regular visiting hours.
- In end-of-life situations that are COVID related, two (2) simultaneous adult visitors may be allowed per patient.
- Up to six (6) unique visitors may switch out per day.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- Visits may be permitted outside of regular visiting hours.
- Each visitor must sign a "Special Circumstance Visitation Guideline" document.
- For patients who are not under investigation and not diagnosed with COVID, they may have up to two (2) simultaneous visitors.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- For patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19, they may identify up to two (2) designated visitors for the duration of their stay.
- One visitor is allowed at one time.
- One switch-out is permitted.
- Re-entry is not permitted.
- Each designated visitor must sign a "Special Circumstance Visitation Guideline" document.
- For patients who are not under investigation and not diagnosed with COVID, they may have up to two (2) simultaneous visitors.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- For patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19, they may identify up to one (1) designated visitors for the duration of their stay.
- It is preferred that these designated visitors are from the same household as the patient.
- Switch-outs are not permitted.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- Each designated visitor must sign a "Special Circumstance Visitation Guideline" document.
- For patients who are not under investigation and not diagnosed with COVID, they may have up to two (2) simultaneous visitors.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- For patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19, visitors who are not required in order to perform medical care or decision making for the patient are encouraged not to accompany patients whenever possible.
- Up to one (1) Essential Support Person or one (1) Caregiver may accompany the patient.
- For patients who are not under investigation and not diagnosed with COVID, parents may identify up to one (1) close contact (exclusive of parents or parent plus designated support person of the baby) as a designated visitor for the duration of their stay.
- The one (1) designated visitor must remain consistent even if the patient is transferred to the NICU Overflow or Newborn Nursery.
- Two (2) designated visitors are permitted at a time in the baby's room.
- Switch-outs are permitted.
- Re-entry is permitted.
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For patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 or diagnosed with COVID-19, parents of the baby or Mother and one (1) other Designated Visitor must demonstrate they are proven to be free from infectious symptoms and disease to be allowed to visit.
- Both parents (if negative) may visit concurrently.
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Re-entry is permitted.
- Each designated visitor must sign a "Special Circumstance Visitation Guideline Document".
- For patients who are not under investigation and not diagnosed with COVID, parents or legal guardians may visit for the duration of the stay.
- Simultaneous visitors are permitted.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- Siblings are allowed to visit during normal visiting hours in the Pediatric Unit. Masks are required for siblings older than 2 years of age.
- For patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19, parents of the pediatric patient or legal guardian and one (1) other designated visitor are allowed to visit.
- Both parents may visit concurrently.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- Each designated visitor must sign a “Special Circumstance Visitation Guideline” document.
- For patients who are not under investigation and not diagnosed with COVID, patients may identify up to two (2) close contacts as designated visitors in addition to the father of the baby or the significant other for the entire duration of their stay.
- Visitor designations must remain consistent even if the patient travels to different units.
- One (1) designated visitor is permitted at a time in the OB Triage area.
- A maximum of one (1) designated visitor, in addition to the father of the baby/significant other/support person are allowed to visit in the room at one time on Labor & Delivery and Mother/Baby units.
- A certified doula who has been hired by the laboring mother may be present for labor and delivery and not counted as a "visitor."
- Switch-outs are permitted.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- Siblings are allowed to visit during normal visiting hours in the Obstetrics Unit. Masks are required for siblings older than 2 years of age.
- For patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19, patients may identify up to two (2) close contacts (inclusive of the father of the baby/support person) as designated visitors for the duration of their stay.
- It is preferred that these designated visitors are from the same household as the patient.
- No more than one (1) visitor in OB Triage.
- Switch-outs are not permitted.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- Each designated visitor must sign a “Special Circumstance Visitation Guideline” document.
- For patients who are not under investigation and not diagnosed with COVID, they may have up to two (2) simultaneous visitors.
- Re-entry is permitted.
- For patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19, visitors who are not required in order to perform medical care or decision making for the patient are encouraged not to accompany patients whenever possible.
- Up to one (1) Essential Support Person or (1) Caregiver may accompany the patient.
- Up to one (1) visitor may accompany patient for obstetrical ultrasound procedures.
- We continue to encourage patients to attend their appointments alone. You may, however, be accompanied by an essential support person when it is necessary to support communication and information sharing during your appointment.
- For patients who do have or are suspected to have COVID-19, visitors who are not required in order to perform medical care or decision making for the patient are encouraged not to accompany patients whenever possible.
- Fever and Upper Respiratory Illness (FURI) Clinics: The clinic will identify guidelines for accompanying patient at the time of scheduling.
- Compassionate Care Situations
- Compassionate Care Situations apply for patients experiencing any of the following:
- A patient who is experiencing weight loss or dehydration and is in need of cuing or encouragement for eating and drinking;
- A patient who is experiencing emotional distress, depression or grief;
- A patient who is experiencing an acute health situation that requires immediate attention;
- A patient who is undergoing surgery with general anesthesia;
- A patient who is unable to provide or does not know pertinent and critical medical information that would aid the health care professional treating the patient (such as post-op instructions, medication changes, mobility restrictions, etc.);
- A patient who is a fall risk and a visitor can enhance the safety of the patient;
- A victim has right to an advocate during medical forensic exam.
- Compassionate Care Situations apply for patients experiencing any of the following:
- Essential Support Person or Caregiver
- A caregiver is defined as an individual who is a responsible party for the patient’s care. This individual is essential to perform the medical care and decision making for/with the patient. This individual has been verified by the medical team as being essential for the delivery of medical care and may present in person for phases of that care. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- To accompany a patient who is a minor or pregnant.
- When an adult patient is unable to obtain childcare and arrives with their child.
- To accompany an adult patient who is developmentally or cognitively impaired.
- To accompany a patient who may be unable to ambulate reliably, or change clothes, without additional assistance.
- To accompany a patient who has a physical or sensory limitation that renders the patient unable to interact without the assistance of an essential support person.
- Any patient that will receive sedation or other procedures that would affect the patient's cognitive ability.
- SJHS recognizes that the ability/status of a patient may change over the course of care, necessitating a change in visitor or essential support person allowances.
- A caregiver is defined as an individual who is a responsible party for the patient’s care. This individual is essential to perform the medical care and decision making for/with the patient. This individual has been verified by the medical team as being essential for the delivery of medical care and may present in person for phases of that care. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Visitor
- A visitor is an individual who is present to provide social support for a patient (regardless of status: inpatient or outpatient). This individual is not required in order to perform medical care or decision making for the patient.
- SJHS recognizes that the ability/status of a patient may change over the course of care, necessitating a change in visitor or essential support person allowances.
- A visitor is an individual who is present to provide social support for a patient (regardless of status: inpatient or outpatient). This individual is not required in order to perform medical care or decision making for the patient.