Visitor Policy
We support meaningful patient visits for patients admitted to Emerson Hospital while ensuring a safe and healing environment.
Checking in
Visitors must check in at the hospital’s main entrance. They will receive a visitor badge displaying the patient’s floor and room number, which they must wear until they leave the hospital. Visitors must also check in at the unit’s nursing station before entering the patient’s room.
Visiting Hours
Visitation is generally encouraged between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM daily to allow admitted patients time to rest and recover. Changes may be made based on patient needs and clinical discretion.
Due to the needs of some patient populations, these inpatient units restrict visitors to the following times:
- Mother/Baby:
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Behavioral Health:
- 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The clinical team may or may not allow visitors outside of the designated hours based on patient needs and preferences.
The following individuals can visit anytime while the patient is in the hospital:
- Birth partners
- Parents or legal guardians of patients under 18
- Attorneys of patients
- Designated “support persons” for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.
End-of-Life (EOL) Visitation
EOL visits may occur at any time at the discretion of the local clinical team, unit leadership, the patient, and their loved ones.
COVID-19 Precautions
If the visitor is positive or exposed:
- Visitors with a COVID-19 infection may not visit patients until 11 days after:
- symptoms start, or
- they first test positive
- COVID-19-exposed visitors may enter the hospital unless they exhibit symptoms.
If the patient is positive or exposed:
- We will brief visitors on the risks to their health associated with visiting.
- Visitors must clean their hands before entering and after leaving the room.
- No extra protective equipment is needed if they stay at least 6 feet from the patient.
- If they expect to be close to the patient, they must wear a gown, gloves, eye protection, and a mask.
- Our staff will show them how to remove this gear before leaving.
- For close contact, we may offer them an N95 mask*.
- Visitors under 18 must stay at least six feet away from the patient.
- Visits should be avoided during procedures that create airborne particles when possible. If a visitor is present, they must wear an N95 mask*. When leaving the room, visitors must remove the N95 mask*, gown, gloves, and eye protection, then put on a surgical mask before exiting the facility.
*We will not provide fit testing.
If a guardian of a minor or support person for an individual with intellectual and physical disabilities is positive:
Support persons or guardians with COVID-19 infection are permitted into the hospital. The support person/guardian must remain masked and in the patient’s room.
If a visitor is positive and visiting an end-of-life patient:
In end-of-life cases, COVID-19-positive visitors may be permitted after consulting with our infection control/infectious disease department. The visitor must always remain masked and in the patient’s room.