Visitor Guidelines

Due to the ongoing presence of COVID-19 in our community, we currently have visitor restrictions in place to protect patients, staff and visitors.

General Visiting hours: 9:00am – 8:00pm (BMH NICU Visiting hours 8:00am-11:00pm)

• Designated visitors for inpatient units must be listed in EPIC.
• All visitors are required to wear a mask throughout their visit.
• Visitors should limit travel through hospital to essential needs only, staying in the patient’s room and avoiding use of public common spaces (exception: cafeteria, restrooms).
• Patients that are admitted with COVID-19 may now have designated visitor(s) during routine hospital visiting hours. Number of visitors allowed varies depending on area.

Specific Visitation Restrictions for Each Area

Adult Inpatients

Two (2) visitors over the age of 16 years for non-COVID patients. The two visitors must be the same throughout the duration of the admission.

COVID positive patients may have one designated visitor. Visitors for COVID patients must provide proof of vaccination completion at least 14 days prior AND complete the COVID Visitor Questionnaire.

Mothers admitted/readmitted with 0-6 week old infants:

• Infant may visit mother with approved caregiver (OB/Med-Surg)
• Infant cannot be left alone at any time with mother
• Caregiver:
  • Needs to be one of the mother’s 2 designated visitors
  • Must stay with the infant at all times
  • Assumes complete responsibility for all of the infants care needs
  • Caregiver should bring safe sleep surface
  • Contact OB for bassinette if safe sleep surface is unavailable

Bronson Birthplace, Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby Unit, Antepartum

Two visitors consistent through the duration of stay; both must by 13 years old or above, at least one must be over the age of 16 years. Only 1 person will be allowed to stay the entirety of the stay, overnight.

• Certified Doula is allowed.
• One (1) support person will be allowed to remain through delivery and transition to postpartum, for the entirety of the stay, all other visitors should leave at 8pm unless delivery is imminent.
• Antepartum patients may have one (1) consistent, designated support person remain with them for the entirety of the stay. Other visitors should leave at 8pm.
• COVID positive laboring patients may have one (1) designated visitor is allowed:
  
  • If the designated visitor does not live within the same house as the COVID+ patient, proof of vaccine series completion at least 14 days prior will be required to be provided prior to visiting.
  • If the designated visitor have been living within the same household as the COVID 19 patient, this requirement will not apply. This will be the same visitor for the entire stay. In effort to minimize travel in and through common public spaces, the designated visitor will remain in the room for meals and restroom needs.

* Only Exception will be for an OB patient that is a minor, under the age of 18; they are allowed two (2) visitors. One (1) must be over 18 years of age.

Mothers admitted/readmitted with 0-6 week old infants:

• Infant may visit mother with approved caregiver (OB/Med-Surg)
• Infant cannot be left alone at any time with mother
• Caregiver:
  • Needs to be one of the mother’s 2 designated visitors
  • Must stay with the infant at all times
  • Assumes complete responsibility for all of the infants care needs
  • Caregiver should bring safe sleep surface
  • Contact OB for bassinette if safe sleep surface is unavailable

Critical Care

Two (2) visitors over the age of 16 years for non-COVID patients. The two visitors must be the same throughout the duration of the admission. One (1) designated visitor may stay the night.

COVID positive patients may have one designated visitor. Visitors for COVID patients must provide proof of vaccination completion at least 14 days prior AND complete the COVID Visitor Questionnaire.

Emergency Department

Adult patients are allowed one visitor over the age of 16 during their stay. The visitor must be the same throughout the stay in the emergency department.

Pediatric patients (18 years of age or younger) are allowed two visitors. The two visitors must be the same throughout the stay in the emergency department.

No visitors are allowed for patients that are COVID-19 positive or are being ruled out as COVID-19 positive.

End of Life

Two (2) visitors at a time, up to six (6) designated visitors who are immediate family over the age of 16 years. This refers to a spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and companion (16 years of age and older).

This does not apply to COVID positive patients. COVID positive patients may have two (2) designated visitors at End of Life for a single visit. They must be able to pass screening and cannot be under quarantine.

Fieldstone Center and Bronson LakeView Behavioral Health 

Visitors not allowed except under extenuating circumstances as determined by the care team.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Patients

Patients may have two (2) visitors over the age of 16 years. Visitors must be the same throughout the patient stay.

Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care Patients (ages 0 through 18 years of age)

Two (2) visitors, at least one must be over the age of 16 years; the same two visitors for the entire stay. Of those two visitors, only parents, legal guardians, potential adoptive parents or foster parents may spend the night. All other visitors should leave at 8pm.

For COVID positive pediatric patients, two (2) visitors will be allowed; this will be the same visitors for the entire stay. 

For Pediatric COVID positive patient visitors:

• If the designated visitor does not live within the same house as the COVID+ patient, proof of vaccine series completion at least 14 days prior will be required to be provided prior to visiting.
• If the designated visitor have been living within the same household as the COVID 19 patient, this requirement will not apply.

In effort to minimize travel in and through common public spaces, the designated visitors will remain in the room for meals and restroom needs.

Surgery/Procedural Areas (Endoscopy, Interventional Radiology/Cath Lab etc.)

Adult: Two (2) visitors over the age of 16 years during the procedural time.
Pediatric: Two (2) visitors over the age of 16 years for pediatric patients 18 years of age and younger.

**COVID-19 + patients may have one designated visitor. Visitors for COVID-19 patients must provide proof of vaccination completion at least 14 days prior AND complete the COVID-19 Visitor Questionnaire.

Bronson Cancer Centers - Battle Creek & Kalamazoo

Patients receiving infusion treatment may have one (1) visitor over the age of 16 years throughout their visit on that day.

Patients not receiving infusion treatments may have one visitor over the age of 16 years only if one of the following applies:

• • Patient requires physical assistance
  • Patient has cognitive impairment and requires support
  • Visit involves reviewing studies or developing a plan of care (Examples: new consult, new diagnosis, chemo education, etc.)

**COVID-19 + patients may have one designated visitor. Visitors for COVID-19 patients must provide proof of vaccination completion at least 14 days prior AND complete the COVID-19 Visitor Questionnaire.

Outpatient Services

No visitors allowed for adult patients unless one of the following applies, in which case patients may have one visitor over the age of 16 years*:

• Patient requires physical assistance.
• Patient has cognitive deficit and requires support.
• Visit involves the review of studies, development of a care plan or is a routine prenatal visit.
• Patient is having a procedure that involves sedation.
• Patient is attending a prenatal appointment.

Pediatric patients (18 years of age or younger) may have two visitors over the age of 16 years.

*Additional visitors will be considered based on individual needs of the patient and family.