Visiting Hours

Because the health and safety of our patients and the people who care for them is a top priority during this COVID-19 health crisis, we’ve established a new Visitor Welcoming Policy. Based on the guidance of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), our policy seeks to provide our patients with the comfort and support of loved ones while helping to limit the spread of the virus.

All Visitors

Visitors play a key role in the health and wellbeing of our patients. Whether you are visiting a patient on a nursing unit, in the Emergency Department (ED), accompanying them as they undergo a procedure or test or assisting them during a provider visit, you will be:

• Screened upon entering our facility: asked a series of health and travel questions, have your temperature checked and be required to sign in, provide contact information and sign out.
• Asked to wash your hands.
• Required to go directly to your loved one’s room (if you are visiting on a nursing unit or in the ED) and stay there for the duration of your visit. If you are serving as a support person during a same day procedure, you may be allowed to accompany your loved one for part of their encounter and then come back when the procedure is complete. It’s best to check prior to the procedure.
• Expected to wear a mask and practice social distancing at all times.

All visitors (with very limited exceptions) must be 18 years of age or older.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Visiting a COVID-positive patient or a patient under investigation (PUI) for COVID - If your loved one is being treated here for COVID or is a PUI, please call the nursing unit to determine next steps.

In the case of imminent death – Our revised Visitor Welcoming Policy makes accommodations for families who’s loved one is near death which includes having 2 designated visitors at the bedside. And, during the defined visiting hours, other family members may visit as one of the designated visitors leave. Please speak with a nurse for specific details.

Visiting a Patient Admitted to the Hospital

If your loved one has been admitted to our facility, you are welcome to visit any day from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and from 4 - 6 p.m.  Only one visitor per patient is permitted in our facility at a time. Others may wait in their cars or outside (remembering to social distance). 

Please go directly to your loved one’s room. If they are in Intensive Care (ICU) or Progressive Care 4, be sure to stop at the entrance of those units to confirm your loved one’s room number.

Please use our Main Lobby as your entry and exit point, remembering to sign in and out. You’ll hear an overhead announcement when visitation hours are over.

Emergency Department Visiting

Visitation in our Emergency Department is permitted 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. However, only one visitor per patient is allowed for the entire length of the patient’s stay. Visitors who accompany a patient to the ED may be asked to return to their car while the patient is checked into the department and assigned a room.

If you are visiting an Emergency Department patient, please use the MRI Screening/Check Point located next to the Emergency Department. After completing the screening process and your loved one is in a room, you’ll be given a map of the department and allowed in. Report directly to the assigned room and remain there for the duration of your visit. Should you leave the department for any reason, you will not be allowed to return.

Visitors who appear to be intoxicated or under the influence will not be permitted to visit.

Visitation continues to be restricted:

• In Fast Track
• For patients with psychiatric conditions
• For patients who are intoxicated
• For patients who are COVID-positive or under investigation (PUI) of having the virus

When your loved one is discharged from the ED, please check out at the MRI Screening/Check Point.

If it’s decided that your loved one needs to be admitted to the hospital, you’ll be asked to checkout at the MRI Screening/Check Point. However, if the admission is during the hospital’s visiting hours (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.) you can accompany them to their room for the duration of those specific hours. Please remember to exit the building through the MRI Screening/Check Point and sign out.

Guidelines for those Providing Support/Visiting in Outpatient Departments

Often patients in our Outpatient Departments (FitzPatrick Cancer Center, Rehabilitation Department, etc.) or those undergoing same day procedure, benefit from having a support person.

A support person is permissible if the patient:

• Is under the age of 18
• Has a medical necessity and requires assistance
• Has a need for emotional support
• Is a new Cancer Center patient or is receiving a first treatment at the Center

Additional Requirements for Visitors/Support People

• Visitors/support people will be screened to include temperature check and questions about their health and recent travel.
• They must be at least 18 years old
• Special consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis for any patient and visitor/support person that does not meet the above criteria. Before traveling to CVPH for your appointment or procedure, speak with your provider. Their staff will communicate to the appropriate screening station/check point in advance of your arrival.

SAME DAY PROCEDURES

If your loved one is having a same day procedure, you may accompany them to the initial process. You’ll then be asked to leave the hospital (our waiting rooms are closed) and can rejoin your loved one for the discharge process. You may be asked to leave a contact number so we can call you when the patient is ready to go home.