Patients & Visitors
Current Visitor Guidelines
Please note: Visitor guidelines vary by hospital and are subject to change. We request that you call the hospital directly for updated guidelines.
Keeping everyone safe remains our first priority. Based on the COVID-19 rate in our community, we have made the following changes to our visitor policy.
- No visitors with symptoms of cough, fever, muscle aches, shortness of breath, recent loss of taste or smell or flu-like illness suggestive of COVID-19 are permitted to visit patients or wait within the facility.
- Masking - including those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 – is mandatory at all times in all buildings, this includes while in a patient room.
- Masks must be close fitting. Bandanas and other loose clothes are not acceptable.
- All visitors must be 16 years of age or older, in good health, and will complete a health screening, including a temperature check at the entrance before entry.
- Visitors may not have an active COVID-19 infection. Must be symptom free and at least 10 days from onset from illness if they previously had a COVID-19 infection.
- All visitors are asked to practice social distancing, hand hygiene and infection prevention:
- Sanitize hands when entering the hospital and when entering or exiting patient rooms.
- Cover coughs or sneezes with elbow or a tissue and dispose of used tissues in the trash.
- Sanitize hands after coughing or sneezing.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) upon instruction in certain units.
- Stay in designated areas and not travel throughout the facility.
Hospitals:
- Number of visitors and visiting hours vary by hospital. Please call for details.
- Inpatient visitors: Go directly to the patient room and stay in designated areas.
- Outpatient procedures/surgery: One person may accompany each patient.
- Radiology and outpatient diagnostics: One person may accompany each patient.
Exceptions:
- Emergency Department: One person per patient (no visiting hour restrictions). Both parents/guardians are permitted for pediatric patients.
- Mom/Baby and Labor and Delivery: One designated support person per patient.
- NICU: Two parents/guardians.
- Compassionate care/end-of-life situations: Please speak with a member of the care team at the hospital for details.
- ICU visitors are permitted for COVID-negative patients.
- Senior Mental Health Unit at Moses Taylor Hospital will allow visitors unless there is a COVID(+) patient on the unit
- No visitors are permitted at First Hospital
- COVID-19 positive patients still under quarantine are limited to one essential visitor. Please call for additional details for each hospital.
- Visits should be scheduled to allow for screening, education and instruction in personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, infection prevention, social distancing, limitation of surface touching and instruction on limited movement within the facility.
- Must be outfitted with appropriate PPE and wear at all times while in the room.
- PPE should not be shared, as it must be dedicated and disposed of properly.