Visiting Restrictions

COVID-19 is a novel virus that poses an unprecedented threat to our patients, especially those who are elderly, have underlying medical conditions or have compromised immune systems. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in New Jersey, and the United States, the visitor policy has been updated and will be strictly enforced.

YELLOW LEVEL GUIDANCE: Visitors allowed, guidelines will be strictly enforced.

General Visitor Guidelines

• Visitors must be 18 years and older, have temperature taken and screened prior to entering any patient unit.
• All visitors must wear masks inside the building. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in loss of visiting privileges.
• No visiting is allowed for COVID positive and patients with COVID symptoms, except circumstances approved by the care team.
• No support person under self-quarantine is permitted to visit.
• Visitors will be asked to stay in the patient room for the duration of their visit. The use of waiting rooms will be strongly discouraged. In the event a visitor is asked to leave while care is provided, they will be directed to a designated area for the unit.

Outpatients: EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, SAME DAY SURGERY / PROCEDURE PATIENTS

• One (1) visitor, must be the same person, allowed for each patient, for the duration of stay.
• Patients with disabilities due to altered mental status, intellectual or cognitive disability, communication barriers, or behavioral concerns can have ONE designated support person visit.

• A designated support person can be: a family member, a personal care assistant or another disability service provider knowledgeable about the patient’s care.

• 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.

OBSTETRICS / Labor & Delivery

• Visiting hours: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Labor & Delivery: Two (2) support people permitted during birth, must be the same people for the duration
• Obstetrics: One (1) patient selected, banded support person, and one (1) additional visitor
• It will be requested of this person to minimize travel to and from the unit and to stay in the patient’s room while here.
• One designated coach/doula only with a hospital-issued wristband. Must be the same doula for duration of birth parent's stay.

INPATIENTS: Medical/Surgical/Critical Care (Non-COVID patients):

• Visiting hours for 5 East & 6 East: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Visiting hours for the Critical Care Unit: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• One visitor per patient for a maximum of 30 minutes. Visitors may change but not overlap.

• EXCEPTION: One (1) visitor at discharge for bedside discharge directions and education

• EXCEPTION: One (1) visitor at a time for patients receiving end of life care..
• EXCEPTION: Exceptions may apply to patients with intellectual, developmental or cognitive impairment including dementia, communication barriers or behavioral concerns.

Other information:

• The front desk will call the charge nurse to confirm if the patient is COVID positive or has COVID symptoms. Only one visitor at a time will be allowed in a semi-private room.
• Clergy will be allowed to visit a patient upon the patient’s request. The front desk will call the charge nurse to confirm that the patient has requested the visit.
• Patients who are on hospice or at the end of life may have two (2) visitors that are unrestricted in the time they are allowed to stay with the patient.

We understand how difficult this time is for patients and their loved ones. To alleviate the stress of the current limited contact with our patients, we are happy to arrange a video chat, personal phone call, or a medical update by appointment only.

Call our family hotline at 973-365-8011 and we will call you within 24 hours to make the arrangements.