Visiting Hours

Visitor Restrictions

Capital Health has an organized approach to meeting the needs of our community regarding COVID-19. Our protocols follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), and the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA). Capital Health does not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

This updated Capital Health directive incorporates and balances patient rights and experience with best practices in infection prevention.

Visitor or Support Person Requirements for All Areas and Campuses

• They must not be ill, or display signs of illness including:
  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
• They must be age 18 or older
• They must wear a face mask in areas where there is active patient care being given
• They must perform hand hygiene when necessary

Persons not meeting these criteria will be denied entry into the facility.

Exceptions to Visitor Restrictions for All Areas and Campuses

• The nurse manager on each unit has the authority to make exceptions to these visitor limitations based on extraordinary circumstances to assure compassion for patients and families. This would include end-of-life care or due to social dynamics of family.
• Clergy will be permitted to attend patients as an additional visitor.
• In accordance with DOH policy, patients with intellectual or cognitive disability, communication barriers or behavioral concerns may have a designated care partner with them at all times. This designated care partner can be a family member, personal care assistant or other disability service provider knowledgeable about the patient’s care. This individual will be identified by an orange band and must be the same individual throughout the patient’s stay. This individual must stop at the lobby security desk and present the band to enter the facility. Once in the unit, the designated care partner must not access other areas of the facility.
• At physician discretion, visitation may be limited for immunocompromised patients on a case-by-case basis.

Volunteers

Fully vaccinated volunteers are permitted at this time if cleared by the Volunteer Service department to begin and/or resume providing service.

Belongings

Limited belongings for COVID-19 patients will be taken in at the front desk subject to the following considerations.

Items are accepted at the front desk only from households in which there are no known positive individuals. Family members attempting to deliver/drop off items must pass symptom and temperature checks for items to be accepted. To aid in infection control, we are only accepting limited items. These are:

• Phone
• Device charger
• Tablet or small device
• Limited reading material

Visitation of Decedents: Both Hospital Campuses

Decedents who are not COVID + or PUI: One family member may visit the decedent on the clinical unit provided there is no impact on ability/capacity to care for other patients.

Decedents who are COVID + or PUI: No visitation is permitted for infection control. The nurse manager can override this based on his/her discretion to allow one visitor. Factors to be considered include social dynamic of family, timing in which they can arrive, and workflow/workload of the unit at that time.

No families are permitted in the morgue at any time.

Hopewell Campus

Two visitors at a time are permitted for each patient between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily (see exceptions below). These do not need to be same individuals throughout the patient stay.

If requested, overnight stays for one care partner are permitted for adult patients if the care partner is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or has tested negative for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 within 72 hours of the visit. The nurse manager, or their designee, on each floor is responsible for validating vaccination or test results of any care partners requesting an overnight stay. Care partners who plan to stay overnight should carry documentation of vaccination or test results with them and be prepared to show documentation. Intensive care units may have restrictions on overnight visits based on space limits and the patient safety.

Any visitor behavior that creates risk to patients, families or staff may lead to visitation restrictions.

Hopewell COVID-19 Units

No visitors are permitted at any time.

Hopewell Emergency Department

For non-COVID and non-PUI patients, two visitors per patient are permitted in the adult Emergency Department treatment areas at all hours. These do not need to be the same individual(s) throughout the ED stay. When not in the treatment area, the designated support person(s) may remain in the Emergency Department waiting area. No visitors are permitted for COVID positive patients and PUI patients.

Hopewell Outpatient Diagnostic, Procedural Areas and Operating Room Waiting Areas

Same day surgery or procedure patients may have one support person accompany them through the registration process at the front desk. One family member/support person of patients undergoing surgical procedures will be invited back after patient intake is complete to wait with the patient both before and after the procedure. PACU remains a restricted area as does the Endoscopy/GI area due to patient safety and privacy concerns. Two visitors are permitted in other outpatient diagnostic areas.

Hopewell Pediatric Inpatient Unit and Emergency Department

Patients less than 18 years of age may have two parents or guardian visitors at all hours. These do not need to be the same designated individuals for the entire hospitalization. Each visitor must meet screening criteria. For the inpatient unit, these individuals will be identified by a band given on the unit. The band must be shown to gain entry to the facility.

Hopewell Neonatal ICU

Visitation for NICU patients is limited to two parents or legal guardian(s). In the event that there is one parent or legal guardian, a second support person may be designated to visit with the parent or legal guardian. The identified individuals will be banded according to organizational standard. The visitors will be the same for the duration of the admission. Visitation may be altered at the discretion of the organization and unit leadership.

Hopewell Obstetrics

Patients may select one visitor/support person who will have access to visitation at all hours. This individual will be banded with the child’s information and must be the same individual throughout the duration of the hospitalization.

In addition to the designated support person, one doula may attend the patient at all hours. The doula is determined to be an essential element of the patient’s healthcare team. This must be the same doula throughout the labor process. The doula will be provided with an orange band to be worn at all times. The doula must meet all criteria as specified above for visitors.

For Labor and Delivery, one additional adult visitor is permitted. This additional visitor does not need to be the same individual throughout the hospital stay.

For 3M, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., two additional adult visitors as well as children who are siblings of the newborn are permitted. The additional visitors do not need to be the same individuals throughout the hospital stay.

RMC Campus

Two visitors at a time are permitted for each patient between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily in single patient rooms (see exceptions below). Two visitors at a time per patient are permitted in double occupancy rooms. These do not need to be same individuals throughout the patient stay.

If requested, overnight stays for one care partner are permitted for adult patients if the care partner is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or has tested negative for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 within 72 hours of the visit. The nurse manager, or their designee, on each floor is responsible for validating vaccination or test results of any care partners requesting an overnight stay. Care partners who plan to stay overnight should carry documentation of vaccination or test results with them and be prepared to show documentation. Intensive care units may have restrictions on overnight visits based on space limits and the patient safety.

Any visitor behavior that creates risk to patients, families or staff may lead to visitation restrictions.

RMC COVID-19 Units

No visitors are permitted at any time.

RMC Emergency Department

For non-COVID and non-PUI patients, two visitors per patient are permitted in the adult emergency department treatment areas at all hours. These do not need to be the same individuals throughout the ED stay. When not in the treatment area, the designated support person(s) may remain in the emergency department waiting area. No visitors are permitted for COVID positive patients and PUI patients.

RMC Outpatient Diagnostic, Procedural Areas and Operating Room Waiting Areas

Same day surgery or procedure patients may have one support person accompany them through the registration process at the front desk. One family member/support person of patients undergoing surgical procedures will be invited back after patient intake is complete to wait with the patient both before and after the procedure. PACU remains a restricted area as does the Endoscopy/GI area due to patient safety and privacy concerns. Two visitors is permitted in other outpatient diagnostic areas.

All Outpatient Practice Offices

Up to two visitors may accompany a patient to an office visit.

We thank you in advance for adhering to our restrictions and understanding.