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

• All visitors are required to wear a hospital provided medical grade 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).
• If allowed visitors are already in the room, other visitors are asked to exit the building.
• Patients that are admitted with COVID-19 may have designated visitor(s) during routine hospital visiting hours. Number of visitors allowed varies depending on area.
• Clergy Visitation:
  • Outside clergy are permitted to visit patients in the hospital when called upon by patients or family. They are not considered one of the two visitors in the room. 
  • Clergy must pass screening at a designated entrance and adhere to all COVID-19 visitation guidelines. 
  • Clergy who visit COVID-19 positive patients must pass screening at a designated entrance and provide proof of vaccination completion at least 14 days prior and complete COVID-19 visitor questionnaire.
  • Only one clergy person is permitted for the entire hospital stay. Multiple clergy are not allowed.

Specific Visitation Restrictions for Each Area

Adult Inpatients

• Two (2) visitors at a time, no limit to number of visitors who can change out. 
• If two visitors are already in the room, other visitors will exit the building.
• Must be over the age of 16.

*COVID-19 + patients may have two designated visitors. Visitors for COVID-19 patients must provide proof of vaccination completion at least 14 days prior AND complete the COVID-19 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 infant’s 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 (2) visitors at a time, no limit to number of visitors who can change out, if not visiting we recommend visitors exit the building. Special circumstances may require use of the waiting room. One visitor must be at least 16 years old and the other must be at least 13 years old. Only one (1) person will be allowed to stay overnight.
• Two (2) visitors will be allowed during the delivery and transition to postpartum. Once transitioned to the Mother Baby unit the visitation guidelines above apply.
• Certified Doula is allowed (not considered one of the two visitors).
• Antepartum patients may have two (2) visitors at a time, visitation guidelines above apply.
• 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.

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 at a time, no limit to number of visitors who can change out. 
• If two visitors are already in the room, other visitors will exit the building.
• Must be over the age of 16.
• One (1) designated visitor may stay the night. 
• End of Life - see End of Life guidelines below. 
• Care Decision Meetings - see Care Decision Meeting guidelines below.

COVID positive patients may have two (2) designated visitors. Visitors for COVID patients must provide proof of vaccination completion at least 14 days prior AND complete the COVID Visitor Questionnaire.

*For COVID-19 + patients, when there is a critical change in status and there are no documented vaccinated visitors, one (1) visitor over the age of 16 years may be allowed for 1 hour or less.

Emergency Department

Adult patients: Two (2) visitors at a time, no limit to number of visitors who can change out. If not visiting, visitor should exit the building. Pediatric patients (18 years of age or younger): two (2) visitors, the same two visitors for the entire stay. No visitors allowed for patients that are COVID-19 + or are being ruled out for being COVID-19 + (Pediatric COVID-19 patients may have one (1) visitor).

End of Life

• Two (2) visitors at a time, no limit to number of visitors who can change out. 
• If two visitors are already in the room, other visitors will exit the building. 
• Must be over the age of 16.

*COVID-19 + patients may have two (2) designated visitors. Visitors for COVID-19 patients must provide proof of vaccination completion at least 14 days prior AND complete the COVID-19 Visitor Questionnaire. *For COVID-19 + patients, when there is a critical change in status and there are no documented vaccinated visitors, one (1) visitor over the age of 16 years may be allowed for 1 hour or less.

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

• Two (2) visitors at a time, no limit to number of visitors who can change out, if not visiting we recommend visitors exit the building. Special circumstances may require use of the waiting room. Must be over the age of 16. 
• One (1) of the visitors must be a parent or designated support person.

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

• Two (2) visitors at a time, no limit to number of visitors who can change out.
• If two visitors are already in the room, other visitors will exit the building.
• At least one must be over the age of 16.
• Of those two visitors, only parents, legal guardians, potential adoptive parents or foster parents may spend the night. All other visitors should leave at 8 pm.

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 may have up to two (2) visitors over the age of 16 years. 
• While receiving infusion treatment, patients can only have one (1) visitor at a time

Outpatient Services

• Adult patients: One (1) visitor over age 16 years.
• Pediatric patient (18 years of age or younger): Two (2) visitors over the age of 16 years.