Visitation guidelines
| Currently, we are at the Yellow Level |
In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, we are continuously assessing the situation and amending our visitation policy to maintain the health and safety of our patients, visitors, and employees, in line with the latest evidence-based guidelines.
As such, we have adopted visitation risk levels based on the number of COVID-19 cases in the community, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) guidelines and instituted lockdown measures. The risk levels will be updated as needed. Planetree International developed tool entitled Family Presence Policy Decision Aid was used to define the family presence at each risk level
The visitation risk levels are provided below:
| Risk Level | Description | Family Presence |
|---|---|---|
| Green Level | Patient Directed Visitation Open for visits |
Support for full presence of care partners with no restrictions |
| Yellow Level | Some limits to visits | Support for full presence of care partners indicated (so long as this does not conflict with local mandates) |
| Orange Level | More limits to visits | Support for care partners’ presence with reasonable limits to the number of care partners at one time and requirements for screening, testing and orientation prior to visiting, based on individual risk factors indicated (so long as this does not conflict with local mandates). |
| Red Level | Most Limited | Temporary restrictions to care partner presence with exceptions for those at risk of greatest harm when separated from their care partners. Those “at risk of greatest harm” might include people with barriers to fully understanding and managing their own condition due to language and cultural factors, cognitive barriers, age-related issues, serious co-morbidities. |
GENERAL RULES
Entry to the hospital:
-
- Upon entering the hospital, your temperature will be checked and you will be asked to perform hand hygiene using the hand sanitizer available at the desk.
- You are required to wear a mask throughout your entire stay in the hospital premises. Your cooperation is appreciated during this time of heightened concern.
- If you are wearing a mask that is not appropriate (such as mask with a valve or cloth mask), you will be asked to remove it and to use another mask. Such masks are not effective in preventing transmission and may put your safety and the safety of others at risk.
When to avoid visiting your loved one:
For the safety of your loved one, we kindly ask you not to visit if you:
- Are at an increased risk of severe illness;
- Have low immunity;
- Have tested positive for COVID-19, or are waiting for COVID-19 test results;
- Have fever or respiratory symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing;
- Have recently come in contact with someone with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.
This visitation guideline is applicable at times of no lockdown measures in the country and COVID 19 cases have decreased:
- Inpatient Units
- Care partners are requested to remain in their loved one’s room as much as possible and to wear a mask throughout the entire stay in the hospital premises.
- Care partner does not need to conduct a PCR exam.
| Unit | Visitation Guideline | Additional considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Surgical Unit | The patient may have one or two care partners throughout the hospital stay. | 2 care partners are allowed at the same time for single occupancy rooms. |
| Pediatric Unit / Maternity Unit | The patient may have 2 alternating care partners throughout the hospital stay. | 2 care partners are allowed at the same time for single occupancy rooms. |
| Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) | The patient may be visited by care partners (mom and/or dad), on an appointment basis. | Appointments should be scheduled in a way to ensure that visits of neonates in the unit do not overlap. |
| Behavioral Health Unit | Patients may have 2 visitors per day, for half an hour (30 minutes), on an appointment basis. | exceptions may be considered on case to case basis. |
| Operating Room | Husband can attend C-section | |
| Recovery room | 1 care partner can be present in recovery room | |
| Labor and delivery room (LDR) | Patient may have 1 or 2 care partners. | Both care partners cannot be present at the same time in the delivery room.
For patients coming for monitoring: 1 companion is allowed in the LDR room. |
| Intensive Care Unit (ICU) | Patient may have one visitor per day or more than one visitor between:
10:00 am – 12:00 pm 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm |
Exceptions may be considered on case to case basis |
- 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
2. Ambulatory areas
- Patient may be accompanied by a care partner / companion.
- Both the patient and the accompanying person are required to wear a mask throughout the entire stay in the hospital premises.
| Area | Description | Visitation Guideline | Additional considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outpatient areas
|
These include:
· Emergency department · Outpatient clinics · Radiology department · Laboratory department etc. |
Patient may have one care partner / companion. | |
| Same day procedures | These include:
· Same day chemotherapy · One day surgeries · Endoscopy etc. |
Patient may have one care partner / companion. | |
| Dialysis
|
Patient may have one care partner / companion. | Care partner / companion shall escort patient to the unit, but will be requested not to stay all the time. |
- Other Areas
| Area | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Visitor Lounges | Accessible. |
| Waiting areas in outpatient clinics | Accessible |
| Cafeteria | Patients / visitors can sit in the cafeteria to have lunch (2 persons per table). |
| Healing Garden and Healing Room | Healing garden is accessible for 2 persons at a time. |
| Gift Shop | Accessible |
This visitation guideline is applicable at times of reduced lockdown measures and when the COVID-19 cases in the community are manageable.
- Inpatient Units
- The care partner needs to do PCR test at Bellevue (a maximum of 3 days before patient admission to the hospital) and the result should be negative.
- Care partners are requested to remain in their loved one’s room as much as possible and to wear a mask throughout the entire stay in the hospital premises.
- Exceptions may be considered on case to case basis (such as end of life patients). Exceptions shall be approved by treating physician and medical administration, after conducting an assessment of the risks and benefits.
| Inpatient Unit | Visitation Guideline | Additional considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Surgical Unit | · Patient may have one care partner throughout the entire hospital stay. | |
| Pediatric Unit / Maternity Unit | · Patient may have 2 alternating care partners throughout the hospital stay.
· Both care partners may not be present at the same time. |
|
| Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) | · Patient may be visited by care partners (mom and dad), on an appointment basis. | Appointments should be scheduled in a way to ensure that visits of neonates in the unit do not overlap. |
| Behavioral Health Unit | · Patient may have one visitor per day, for half an hour (30 minutes), on an appointment basis. | Exceptions may be considered in case more than one family member wants to visit the patient, after request is approved by the treating physician and medical administration. |
| Recovery room | · No visitation in this unit | Exceptions may be considered for children who have surgery; 1 care partner (mother or father) may enter the recovery room |
| Labor and delivery room (LDR) | · Patient may have 2 care partners; both care partners cannot be present at the same time in the delivery room. | For patients coming for monitoring: 1 companion is allowed in LDR room. |
| Intensive Care Unit (ICU) | · Patient may have one visitor per day, for half an hour (30 minutes) between:
|
No PCR is needed for the visitor |
| COVID unit and COVID ICU unit | · Patient may have one visitor per day, for one hour between:
|
· The following can visit patients in COVID unit:
– Person who contacted COVID before – Person who did not contact COVID before – Person who took COVID 19 vaccine and is fully vaccinated i.e. took both doses · No PCR is needed for the visitor · Visitors shall don N95 / K95 mask and face shield · Visitor will be provided with an impermeable gown upon entry to the unit.
|
- Ambulatory areas
- Patient may be accompanied by a care partner / companion.
- Care partner / companion does not need to undergo a PCR exam
- Both the patient and accompanying person are required to wear a mask throughout the entire stay in the hospital premises.
- Cooperation is appreciated during this time of heightened concern.
| Area | Description | Visitation Guideline | Additional considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outpatient areas | These include:
· Emergency department · Outpatient clinics · Radiology department · Laboratory department · etc. |
Patient may have one care partner /companion. | |
| Same day procedures | These include:
· Same day chemotherapy · One day surgeries · Endoscopy etc. |
Patient may have one care partner /companion. | |
| · Dialysis | Patient may have one care partner / companion. | Care partner / companion shall escort patient to the unit, but will be requested not to stay all the time. |
- Other Areas
| Area | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Visitor Lounges | · Not accessible. |
| Waiting areas in outpatient clinics | · Accessible
· Minimal chairs, seating 1 out of 3 |
| Cafeteria | · Open, minimal capacity
· Patients / Visitors can sit in the cafeteria to have lunch (1 person per table / 2 persons from the same family on 1 table). |
| Healing Garden and Healing Room | · Healing room is accessible for one person at a time
· Healing garden is accessible for patients and their companions at a minimal capacity. Only 2 can sit per table and social distancing shall be maintained. |
| Gift Shop | · Open, minimal capacity |
This visitation guideline is applicable when there is a surge of COVID 19 cases in the community and at times of country lockdown measures.
- Inpatient Unit
- The care partner needs to do PCR test at Bellevue (a maximum of 3 days before patient admission to the hospital) and the result should be negative.
- Care partners are requested to remain in their loved one’s room as much as possible and to wear a mask throughout the entire stay in the hospital premises.
- Exceptions may be considered on case to case basis (such as end-of-life patients). Exceptions shall be approved by treating physician and medical administration, after conducting an assessment of the risks and benefits.
| Inpatient Unit | Visitation Guideline | Additional considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Surgical Unit | · Patient may have only one care partner throughout the entire hospital stay. | |
| Pediatric Unit / Maternity Unit | · Patient may have 2 alternating care partners throughout the hospital stay. | For the pediatric unit: care partners should be mom and dad.
The care partners are not allowed to be present together at the same time in the patient room |
| Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) | · Patient may be visited by one partner (mom or dad) based on an appointment basis. |
|
| Behavioral Health Unit | · No visitation is allowed. | Exceptions shall be considered in case one family member wants to visit the patient, after request is approved by the treating physician and medical administration. |
| Recovery rooms | · No visitation is allowed. | Exceptions will be considered for children who have surgery; 1 care partner may enter the recovery room if PCR is negative and available. |
| Labor and delivery room (LDR) | · Only one person is allowed to be present with the patient. | |
| Intensive Care Unit (ICU) | · No visitation is allowed. | · No exceptions will be considered except for end of life patients, unless request is approved by the treating physician and medical administration.
· In case of exception, visitor needs to undergo PCR test. |
| COVID 19 unit / ICU COVID Unit | · No visitation is allowed. | · No exceptions will be considered except for end of life patients, unless request is approved by the treating physician and medical administration.
· In case of exception, visitor needs to undergo PCR test. |
| Post COVID unit | · Patient may have one care partner.
· Isolated and suspected patients: No visitation is allowed |
- Ambulatory areas
- Only dependent patients shall have companion / care partner. Dependent patients include pediatric patients, elderly / geriatric patients, patients with special needs, and pregnant women.
- Both the patient and accompanying person are required to wear a mask throughout the entire stay in the hospital premises.
- Cooperation is appreciated during this time of heightened concern.
| Area | Description | Visitation Guideline | Additional considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outpatient areas
|
These include:
· Emergency department · Outpatient clinics · Radiology department · Laboratory department etc. |
· Patients are requested to come on their own; companion is asked to wait in car.
· One person can accompany the dependent patient. |
Care partner / companion does not need to undergo a PCR exam |
| Same day procedures | These include:
· Same day chemotherapy, · One day surgeries · Endoscopy etc. |
· Patients are requested to come on their own; companion is asked to wait in car.
· One person can accompany the dependent patient. |
Care partner / companion of same day chemotherapy or surgery patient is requested to undergo a PCR exam |
| · Dialysis | · Patient may have one care partner / companion. | Care partner / companion shall escort patient to the unit, but will be requested not to stay all the time. |
- Other Areas
| Area | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Visitor Lounges | · Not accessible |
| Waiting areas in outpatient clinics | · Remove some seats from waiting area
· Ensure spacing of appointments to avoid crowded areas |
| Cafeteria | · Patients / visitors can order food as take away |
| Healing Garden and Healing Room | · Not accessible |
| Gift Shop | · Not accessible |
References:
Family Presence Policy Decision Making Toolkit for nurse leaders. https://planetree.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Family-Presence-Policy-Decision-Making-Toolkit.pdf. Released on May 25, 2021, Accessed June 6, 2021
