Last Updated: Friday, February 24, 2023 at 5:45am
VISITATION AT ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM HOSPITALS IS CURRENTLY PERMITTED WITH SOME LIMITATIONS.
As we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of patients, visitors, essential caregivers, support persons and health care professionals, Atlantic Health System has implemented the following requirements:
- Visiting hours are from 10:00am to 8:00pm, but may vary by location or department.
- Visitors must be 12 years of age or older except in rare exceptions as determined by the facility.
- Children under 18 years of age must always be accompanied by an adult while visiting the hospital.
- For patients confirmed with COVID-19, patients quarantined for COVID-19, or patients under investigation for COVID-19 visiting hours are from 1:00pm to 8:00pm.
- These visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
- Visitors are encouraged to limit the visitation to two hours for this patient population.
- Visitors to the maternity care and pediatric departments must be 18 years of age or older, except in rare circumstances as determined by the medical center.
- All visitors will be required to wear a disposable mask and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at all times. They may wear their own disposable mask, or a mask will be provided upon entry. Cloth masks, bandanas, gaiters and vented masks are not permitted. Those wearing a cloth mask will be provided with a disposable mask to wear. Visitors will be provided instructions on how to wear masks and appropriate PPE. Anyone refusing to wear a mask or other PPE as indicated will be asked to leave the facility.
If physical distancing can be maintained, visitors will be permitted with the following:
Adult Inpatients
- Two visitors are permitted at a time. Visitors may change throughout the day.
- For patients in end-of-life care: additional visitors are permitted with administrative approval. Visitors may change throughout the day.
- For patients confirmed with COVID-19, quarantined for COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19: one unique visitor. The visitor does not need to be the same person for the duration of the patient’s stay.
- The number of visitors for a patient confirmed with COVID-19, quarantined for COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19 at end of life will be determined by the nursing unit and providers.
- Please call the unit prior to visiting.
Behavioral Health Patients
- Morristown Medical Center
- Visitors are not permitted at this time.
- Overlook Medical Center
- Permission may be requested for one unique visitor during the patient’s stay.
- Visiting hours are between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
- Permission to visit is granted at the discretion of the care team, including time and duration of visit.
- Approval to visit must be given in advance by the physician or care team.
- Visitation for a patient confirmed with COVID-19, quarantined for COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19 is not permitted at this time.
- Newton Medical Center
- Permission may be requested for one unique visitor during the patient’s stay.
- Visiting hours are between 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Permission to visit is granted at the discretion of the care team, including time and duration of visit.
- Approval to visit must be given in advance by the physician or care team.
- One unique visitor for a patient confirmed with COVID-19, quarantined for COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19. Visitor does need to be the same person for the duration of the patient’s stay.
Emergency Department Patients
- Two visitors are permitted to accompany an adult patient for an emergency department visit.
- Two parents or guardians of a pediatric patient are allowed.
- One unique visitor for a patient confirmed with COVID-19, quarantined for COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19.
- Visitor must be the same person for the duration of the patient’s stay.
We aim to maintain the emergency department visitation guidelines described above. However, when the emergency department is caring for an unusually high number of patients, we will adjust to prevent overcrowding and maintain safety for all.
When there is an increased number of patients in the emergency department, visitation may be temporarily reduced to one (1) visitor/caregiver/support person per adult patient.
When you arrive at the emergency department, a team member will inform you of current visitation status.
Immunosuppressed Patients
No visitors are permitted, except in the cases below:
- One parent or one guardian of pediatric patients is permitted for the duration of the child’s stay.
- One visitor, who must be the same person, is permitted for patients receiving end-of-life care.
- Additional exceptions may apply to pediatrics, labor and delivery, end of life, and patients with intellectual, developmental or cognitive impairment including dementia, communication barriers or behavioral concerns. These require approval by the physician or care team.
Maternity Care Patients
- One designated support person is permitted during labor and delivery. This person will be given a special wrist band and may remain with the mother throughout her stay.
- One certified doula will be allowed during labor and delivery. This must be the same doula for the duration of the mother’s stay.
- In addition to the designated support person and certified doula, one additional support person is allowed during labor and delivery but will not be permitted in the operating room.
- Two visitors will be allowed, space permitting, in the mother-baby unit during regular visiting hours. These do not need to be the same people for the duration of the mother’s stay. The designated support person is not considered a visitor.
- Two unique visitors are permitted for a patient confirmed with COVID-19, quarantined for COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19. Visitors do not need to be the same people for the duration of the patient’s stay.
Surgery or Procedure Patients
- One support person is permitted until the patient is taken into the prep area for surgery or procedure.
- The support person may wait for the patient in the waiting room if social distancing can be maintained.
- If social distancing cannot be maintained, the support person should provide a contact phone number so that the care team can regularly communicate the status of the patient and contact them with ample time to return for pickup.
- If social distancing can be maintained, the support person may be present to review discharge instructions.
Pediatric Patients
- Two parents or guardians may be with the child during visiting hours. One parent or guardian may remain with the child overnight and throughout the inpatient hospital stay.
- Two unique visitors for a patient confirmed with COVID-19, quarantined for COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19. Visitors do not need to be the same people for the duration of the patient’s stay.
- NICU: Two parents or guardians are permitted during visiting hours. The NICU designates the two parents or caregivers with wristbands associated with their baby. One parent/guardian may stay overnight (24/7) in both the Morristown and Overlook Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).
- Siblings may be permitted for end-of-life care; this will be determined by the care team.
Support Person During Hospital Discharge
- To support our patients and their caregivers, a support person may be present to review discharge instructions and education as long as social distancing can be achieved
Exceptions may be made for patients receiving compassionate end-of-life care, pediatric patients, and caregivers for patients with special needs, which may include intellectual, developmental or cognitive impairment including dementia, communication barriers or behavioral concerns. Patients will be asked to provide contact information for a family member or support person who will receive updates on their care.
General Guidelines for Visitors and Support Persons:
- All visitors will be screened to determine if they have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days, have a pending COVID-19 test or have someone within their household who tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days.
- Hospital visitors/support persons will be required to complete temperature and symptom screening upon entering the facility. If the individual does not pass any element of the screening, they will not be permitted to visit.
- All visitors must be 12 years of age or older except for the rare exception as determined by the facility. Children under 18 years of age must always be accompanied by an adult while visiting the hospital.
- Visitors to our maternity care and pediatric departments must be 18 years of age or older, except in rare circumstances as determined by the medical center.
- All visitors will be required to wear a disposable mask and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at all times. They may wear their own disposable mask, or a mask will be provided upon entry. Cloth masks, bandanas, gaiters and vented masks are not permitted. Those wearing a cloth mask will be provided with a disposable mask to wear. Visitors will be provided instructions on how to wear masks and appropriate PPE. Anyone refusing to wear a mask or other PPE as indicated will be asked to leave the facility.
- Visitors are asked to remain in the patient’s room or emergency department bay unless otherwise directed by an Atlantic Health System team member. Visitors may use designated eating locations within the medical center and other amenities available to patients or visitors.
- Visitors for a patient confirmed with COVID-19, quarantined for COVID-19, or under investigation for COVID-19 will be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in the patient rooms to include a KN95. Visitors will be provided an educational handout with instructions on how to put on and take off PPE. When the unit activity level increases significantly beyond normal levels or the hospital experiences a COVID surge, hospital leadership may restrict visitation to COVID positive, persons under investigation or quarantined patients.
- An essential caregiver or support person is an individual who was previously activity engaged with the patient or is committed to assisting and encouraging activities of daily living and other care needs. An essential caregiver/support person is not considered a visitor. Visitors will be allowed addition to essential caregivers and support persons.