Revised Visitor Policy

Due to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), visitation in all Northwell Health hospitals is being limited.

The Governor has mandated a 14 day quarantine for anyone traveling from states experiencing high rates of COVID-19 infections.

If you have been to any of these states in the last 14 days, please do NOT enter the building or visit patients.

Thank you for your cooperation in protecting our patients, their families and our team members.

Please follow our visitation guidelines for the safety of our patients, visitors and team members​​​​​​

Visitation for Hospital Patients

• Visitation is from 1pm to 5pm.
• Only one visitor at a time will be permitted at the bedside.
• Total visitation time for all visitors cannot exceed the 4 hour maximum.
• Visitors must undergo symptom and temperature checks upon entering the facility.
• A hospital-issued mask must be worn by visitors at all times.
• Visitors must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for isolation rooms as recommended by the department and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• All visitors must sign in at the front desk when arriving .
• No one under 18 years of age will be permitted to visit.
• Visitors must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon arrival and when leaving the patient’s room.
• Visitors are not permitted to wear personal gloves upon entry into the facility.
• Visitors are not permitted access to hospital pantries and cafeteria—please ask staff for assistance.
• Visitors are not permitted in our Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility or peri-operative area
• Visitors are not permitted to visit with patients who are COVID-19-positive.
• Visitors must remain in the patient’s room throughout the visit except when directed by hospital staff to leave for procedures (during which visitors are normally asked to leave the room).
• Visitors are not allowed to use patient bathrooms.

*These guidelines are subject to change

---

Visitation for PBMC Obstetrics

• The support person (must be asymptomatic) can remain with the patient for her entire stay (regardless of patients COVID-19 status). The support person will still have temps monitored and remain in the patients room, guest trays will be provided.
• If the patient requests a doula in addition to their support person— doula certification and negative COVID-19 result within 48 hours is necessary (system recommendation). The doula will be asked to leave after the immediate post-partum recovery (aproximately 2 hours).
• If the patient is COVID-19-positive, no additional visitors are permitted.
• If the patient is COVID-19-negative, they may select a total of 2 visitors for their entire stay.
• Only 1 visitor (in addition to support person) is permitted onto the unit at a time, visitation will occur during the hours of 1pm to 5pm.

  ---

  Visitation for the Emergency Department

• Visitors for Emergency Department patients must enter through the Emergency Department entrance.
• Only one visitor at a time will be permitted.
• Visitation can be terminated at any time and is at the discretion of the Emergency Department Care Team.
• All visitors must be over 18 years of age and be pre-identified by the patient.
• All visitors must present ID when entering our facility.
• A hospital-issued mask and visitor badge must be worn at all times.
• Visitors are not permitted to wear personal gloves upon entry into the facility.
• Visitors must undergo mandatory screening upon entering the facility; this will include temperature check. No visitor may enter if they have a fever, cough, or any respiratory symptoms.
• Visitors must remain in the patient’s room throughout the visit except when directed by hospital staff to leave.
• Visitors must wash their hands, or use hand sanitizer, upon arrival and when leaving the patient’s room or public restrooms and maintain 6 feet of separation from other patients and visitors.
• Visitors are not permitted access to hospital pantries or cafeteria - please ask staff for assistance.
• Visitors may be required to wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) at the staff’s direction in certain circumstances.
• Visitors must avoid physical contact with the patient.
• Please be aware we may ask you to temporarily step outside due to patient care needs.

Guidance for safe visitation

Let’s work together to help prevent the spread of infection to our patients, team members and visitors.

5 steps to washing your hands the right way

• Wet your hands with clean, running water and use soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice).
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. —Dry your hands using a clean paper towel.

How to use hand sanitizer

• Apply the product to the palm of one hand.
• Rub your hands together.
• Rub the product over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry—this should take around 20 seconds.

Isolation precautions

Anyone who visits a patient with an isolation sign on the door should stop at the nursing station before entering the patient’s room. Isolation precautions create barriers that help prevent the spread of germs in the hospital. They are needed to protect you and the patient you are visiting. The precautions are also needed to protect other patients in the hospital.

When a patient is in isolation:

• Visitors may need to wear PPE (gloves, gown, mask).
• Visitors must not touch the patient.
• Visitors may not be allowed into a patient’s room at all.
• Visitors who are ill will not be permitted to enter the hospital (no exceptions).
• We encourage visitors to remain closely connected to their loved ones through virtual visual means such as Skype or FaceTime