Visiting Restrictions - Updated Jan. 15
To protect our patients, employees and community from potential COVID-19
infection, visiting is limited at Great River Medical Center.
ALL VISITORS
Visitors must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Pass COVID-19 screening
- Use the main entrance Monday through Friday, and the Emergency Department
entrance Saturday and Sunday
- Wear a mask at all times while in the building
- Stay in the patient’s room or designated visitor area
INPATIENTS
General visiting hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Inpatients may designate one visitor for the length of their stay. That
person may visit once a day.
- Patients who are being admitted from the Emergency Department may have
one visitor for up to two hours to help with completing the patient history
and getting settled in the patient room.
- Inpatients who are having a procedure may have one visitor present during
the procedure.
- Clergy may visit patients. They must wear a face shield over their mask
during the visit.
- Inpatients who are being discharged may have one family member come to
the patient’s room up to two hours before discharge. This time will
be used for education, reviewing new medications or treatments, and answering
questions about the transition to home.
Patients in these situations may not have visitors:
- COVID-19 Unit
- Under investigation for COVID-19
- Isolation precautions, except for restrictive and contact precautions
Visiting times and restrictions vary in these areas:
-
Behavioral Health Unit – Visiting hours are 3 to 5 p.m.
-
End of life when death is imminent – Two visitors
-
Obstetrics Unit – One partner or birth support person
-
Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients – One birth parent plus one significant other
-
Pediatrics Unit/patients under 18 – One parent or guardian at a time
Exceptions:
Exceptions that require approval for visitation outside of visiting hours
by the unit director:
- Family members may participate in care planning meetings when required.
- Patient has transitioned to comfort care.
- Patients with disruptive behavior whose family member is key to their care
may have one visitor overnight.
- Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays who require
a caregiver to help provide safety may have one visitor overnight.
- Other special circumstances may be approved by the unit director.
OUTPATIENTS
-
Cancer treatment – One visitor
-
Clinics (most) – Adult patients who require a caregiver and children under 18 may
have one visitor.
-
Women’s Health – One visitor for ultrasound appointments only
-
Day Hospital – One visitor
-
Day Surgery – One visitor
-
Diagnostic Imaging – No visitors unless the patient is under 17 or needs assistance
-
Emergency Department – No visitors unless approved by staff based on the patient’s
clinical condition.
-
Heart & Vascular Center – One visitor
-
Laboratory testing – No visitors unless the patient is under 17 or needs assistance
Visitors must pass a screening and stay in the patient’s room or
designated visitor area. Patients with visitor exceptions are limited
to the same visitor for the entire time they are hospitalized. The hospital
cafeteria is not open to visitors.
Screening process
• Visitors will be asked about the presence of COVID-19 symptoms and
exposure, and their temperatures will be taken.
• Visitors will receive a mask if they don’t have one. It must
be worn at all times in the building.
• Visitors must be at least 18 years old.