VISITATION HOURS

Please use the guidelines below to plan your visit
at Southern Maryland Hospital Center 
 

PURSUANT TO MARYLAND LAW, POLICY DOES NOT APPLY TO SUB-ACUTE UNIT WHICH HAS OPEN ACCESS [24/7] WITHOUT LIMITATIONS TO AGE OF VISITORS 

GENERAL VISITATION GUIDELINES

Visiting Hours will be followed as posted with certain special exceptions on a case-by-case basis as determined by Head Nurse or Charge Nurse.

NUMBER OF VISITORS AT A TIME

1. Medical/Surgical Units, Critical Care Units and Behavioral Health Unit
• Irrespective of how many visitors arrive at the hospital, the number of visitors in the room must be limited to two (2) per patient at a time on a rotating basis.
• Nursing directors may consider adjusting policy to certain special circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
• SPECIAL PASSES - Special Passes may be issued to family members in extenuating circumstances (such as unlimited access or overnight stay) by the Head Nurse or Charge Nurse.
2. Maternal Child Health Units --- Labor & Delivery
   • Irrespective of how many visitors arrive at the hospital, the number of visitors in the room must be limited to three (3) per patient at a time with Purple Wrist Band. Siblings are permitted to visit with Mom & Newborn in L&D [AFTER] delivery.
   • Nursing directors may consider adjusting policy to certain special circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
3. Maternal Child Health Units --- Antepartum, Postpartum & Nursery
   • Irrespective of how many visitors arrive at the hospital, the number of visitors in the room must be limited to three (3) per patient at a time on a rotating basis, but siblings can be added to group if accompanied by an adult.
   • Nursing directors may consider adjusting policy to certain special circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
   • AGE LIMITATION
     1. Medical/Surgical Units, Critical Care Units and Behavioral Health Unit
        • No age limit for siblings.
        • Visitation for "non-sibling" children limited to age 12 and up.
        • At least one adult visitor should be in the room when children are visiting.
        • Children should not be left unattended with the patient.
        • Nursing directors may consider adjusting policy to certain special circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
     2. Maternal Child Health Units --- Labor & Delivery
        • Visitation should be limited to siblings at any age [AFTER] delivery.
        • At least one adult visitor should be in the room when children are visiting.
        • Siblings should not be left unattended in L&D with the patient.
        • Nursing directors may consider adjusting policy to certain special circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
     3. . Maternal Child Health Units --- Antepartum, Postpartum & Nursery
        • Visitation should be limited to children ages 12 and up.
        • At least one adult visitor should be in the room when children are visiting.
        •  Children should not be left unattended with the patient.
        •  Nursing directors may consider adjusting policy to certain special circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
     4. Areas for general waiting are available in the Main Lobby, the Solarium and the Waiting Lounge on each Nursing Floor.
        Children should not be left unattended in any of these areas without adult supervision.
   • PATIENT DISCHARGE TIME FRAME - If a patient's discharge time is before or after posted visiting hours, family members will be allowed to pass through to the nursing unit to pick up their loved one.
   • PATIENT SAFETY CONCERNS
     1. Patients in Protective Isolation
        • Visitors may be issued masks and other protective garments for use when visiting.
        • Visitors who do not comply with these important instructions will be asked to leave.
     2. Patients vulnerable to contagious diseases
        • Because it is difficult to determine which visitors may have symptoms of communicable illness including coughing, fever, undiagnosed rash, pink-eye, and upper respiratory symptoms, we recommend you refrain from visiting.
        • Visitors with any active flu-like illness are not allowed.
        • Visiting hours on each unit are subject to change during periods of increased incidence of seasonal flu and H1N1 flu outbreaks.
        • CHANGES TO VISITING HOURS DURING FLU SEASON WILL BE POSTED ON THE HOSPITAL WEBSITE, AND DISPLAYED IN PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN THE HOSPITAL. Typically during flu epidemics, it is important to limit the number of visitors at any one time, to limit the duration of visits, and to limit the age of visitors.
          
     3. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF HANDWASHING
        • Visitors should observe proper hand washing and sanitizing techniques before contact with the patient (especially newborn infants).
        • Parents should ensure adult supervision of child visitors, and assist children in hand washing.
   • SPECIAL OR UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES
     ATYPICAL SITUATIONS AND SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES PRESENTED BY VISITORS ARRIVING AT THE HOSPITAL THAT FALL OUTSIDE THESE GUIDELINES ARE REFERRED TO HOSPITAL OFFICIALS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:
     1. Nursing Unit: Head Nurse or Charge Nurse
     2. Administrative Director of Nursing (A.D.N.) on duty.
     3. Nursing Administration
     4. Administrator-on-Call (A.O.C.)