Claire Dawson
The number of visitors allowed in a hospital varies depending on the hospital's policies and the patient's preferences. Generally, hospitals allow up to two visitors at a time, with some permitting up to four visitors. Visitation hours are usually restricted to specific times, such as 6 am to 10 pm, with quiet hours in the late night to early morning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals adopted policies that allowed patients to visit with family and friends while prohibiting visits from clergy and sick individuals. Patients have the right to receive visitors of their choosing, but hospitals may impose clinically necessary restrictions, such as limiting visitors during emergency procedures or due to space, safety, or privacy concerns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of visitors allowed at a time | 2 |
| Number of visitors allowed during delivery | 4 |
| Number of visitors allowed for postpartum patients | 4 |
| Age limit for visitors | 12 or 18 |
| Visitor passes/armbands | Yes |
| Quiet hours | 10 pm to 6 am |
| Masking requirements | Optional, unless sick or displaying symptoms |
| Restrictions | No weapons, no photography/videography in common areas, no smoking/vaping |
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What You'll Learn
Visitor limits for adult patients
The number of visitors allowed in a hospital varies across different hospitals. Here is a summary of the visitor limits for adult patients in different hospitals:
Nuvance Health
According to Nuvance Health, all patients 21 years or older will be allowed one screened care partner or support person. If patient volume is low, ED leadership may permit up to two visitors or support persons.
Orlando Health
Orlando Health allows surgical adult patients in pre-op and stage 2 PACU areas to have one visitor. Additional visitors may wait in the waiting area or general areas of the facility. Two visitors may accompany a patient in outpatient areas. One adult visitor per patient may stay overnight, unless the patient is in a semi-private room accommodation.
UF Health
UF Health allows two visitors at a time for adult patients. One visitor will be allowed in the ED bay, and one visitor at the bedside for triage. Visiting hours are 9 am to 9 pm, but hours may vary by floor.
Baton Rouge General
Baton Rouge General allows one visitor to stay overnight postpartum. There is no visitor limit during visiting hours. All visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult other than the patient.
Inova
Inova allows patients to have two visitors (aged 12 or older) at a time during visitation hours. For postpartum visits, siblings of any age are allowed as visitors. Overnight visitation is allowed for all patients in a private room, with one person for adult patients.
Erlanger
Erlanger has a limited visitor policy, with specific rules depending on the unit or clinic. Generally, two visitors are allowed at the bedside, and one visitor per patient may stay overnight.
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Visitor limits for pediatric patients
Visitor restrictions in hospitals have been a common measure to limit the spread of COVID-19. Visitor policies vary across hospitals, but generally, there are specific rules regarding pediatric patients.
At Geisinger, pediatric patients have no limit on the total number of visitors, but only two designated visitors may be in the room at the same time. Similarly, at Maine Medical Center, there is no limit to the number of visitors a pediatric patient can have, but only two visitors are allowed at a time, provided there is sufficient space to comply with social distancing guidelines.
At Munson Healthcare, pediatric patients aged 21 or younger can have one adult primary caregiver at a time, such as a parent or guardian. HSHS St. John's Hospital allows pediatric patients to have two parents or guardians, who must remain in the patient's room for the duration of the visit.
Some hospitals, such as Northwestern Medicine, have specific age restrictions for visitors. For example, at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, all visitors must be 12 or older, while at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, all visitors must be 18 or older. Additionally, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, all visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
It is important to note that hospitals may have different policies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is recommended to check with the specific hospital for their latest visitor guidelines.
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Visitor limits for maternity patients
Visitor policies vary across hospitals, and these policies are subject to change, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, hospitals have specific guidelines for different departments, including maternity, emergency, paediatrics, and intensive care units.
For maternity patients, visitor restrictions are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of both the mother and the newborn. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some hospitals implemented stricter visitor policies, allowing only one approved visitor for maternity patients in active labour. This visitor could be a spouse, partner, parent, or legal guardian. Both the patient and the visitor were screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure. In some hospitals, maternity patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were allowed one support person during their stay, provided they lived in the same household.
Typically, maternity patients are allowed a small number of visitors, with some hospitals permitting only one or two visitors at a time. Hospitals may also have specific rules regarding the duration of visits and visitor switching to facilitate family bonding and breastfeeding. For example, some hospitals allow maternity patients to have unlimited total visitors but restrict the number of visitors in the room to four at a time. Other hospitals may allow only one visitor to stay overnight.
In certain circumstances, hospitals may make exceptions to their visitor policies. For instance, visitors under a specific age must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Additionally, hospitals may consider the patient's preference and bed availability when determining overnight visitor arrangements. Visitor restrictions may be altered at the discretion of the clinical manager or charge nurse.
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Visitor age restrictions
Hospitals have varying visitor age restrictions. For example, at Northwestern Medicine, the age restrictions vary by location. At Northwestern Memorial Hospital, all visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. At Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, all visitors must be 12 or older. At Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, all visitors must be 18 or older.
Some hospitals have stricter age restrictions. For example, at UNC Hospitals and UNC Health Chatham, visitors aged 11 and younger are prohibited from all inpatient areas and all waiting rooms. At Northwestern Medicine, inpatient visitors must be 18 or older. Similarly, Geisinger hospitals have the same age restrictions, only allowing visitors who are 18 or older.
In some cases, hospitals may allow younger visitors in specific circumstances. For example, at UNC Hospitals, children under 12 are prohibited from visiting inpatient areas and waiting rooms, but this restriction does not apply to outpatient visits. At Geisinger hospitals, minors may have a parent stay with them at the discretion of the nursing staff.
It is important to note that these age restrictions may change due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the flu season. During these times, hospitals may implement stricter visitor restrictions to protect the health and safety of their patients and staff.
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Visitor conduct rules
- Visitors must check in at the front desk and wear a visitor badge or wristband at all times.
- Visiting hours are typically between 6 am and 10 pm, but this may vary across hospitals. Check with the hospital before your visit.
- The number of visitors is usually restricted to two people at a time. However, this may vary depending on the patient's preference and the hospital's discretion.
- Children are considered visitors and must be accompanied by a responsible adult who is not the patient. The minimum age for visitors varies across hospitals, with some requiring visitors to be 12 or older, and others allowing children under supervision.
- Visitors must adhere to health and safety protocols, including hand hygiene and wearing masks if required. Do not visit if you are feeling unwell or have any infectious symptoms.
- Respect the privacy and comfort of patients and staff. Be considerate and keep noise levels down.
- Do not share a patient's personal items, such as toiletries and tissues, or hospital equipment with others.
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Frequently asked questions
The number of visitors allowed in a hospital room varies depending on the hospital and the department. For example, the number of visitors allowed in a maternity ward may differ from the number allowed in an emergency department. Generally, hospitals allow up to two visitors at a time, with some permitting up to four visitors.
No, hospitals usually have designated visiting hours. For example, Banner Health hospitals have visitation hours from 6 am to 10 pm, with quiet hours from 10 pm to 6 am.
Yes, hospitals may impose restrictions based on the patient's preferences, safety, privacy, and clinical needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals prohibited visits from clergy while allowing visits from family and friends.
This depends on the hospital's policies. Some hospitals allow children as long as they are accompanied by an adult, while others have age restrictions, only permitting visitors over the age of 12 or 18.
No, most hospitals require visitors to be symptom-free of any infectious disease. UCLA Health, for example, states that visitors experiencing symptoms such as a cough or cold should stay home.
