Visitor Information & Policies
Mercy's COVID-19 Visitor Policy is outlined below and currently allows for care partners to accompany patients for some visits and/or procedures. Care partners are defined as family and friends who visit inpatients and may come along to outpatient visits, in some cases. Potential exceptions include:
1. Any person who has any symptoms of COVID-19 will not be permitted to visit.
2. No care partners under the age of 18 will be permitted unless approved by the medical team.
3. All care partners may be screened at the registration desk or at their destination.
a. Screening may include:
- Temperature monitoring
- Review of symptoms consistent with COVID-19
- Contact with any persons suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19
- If the visitor does not pass the screening, they will not be permitted to visit
4. All care partners must comply with Mercy policies regarding infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE). Any visitor who does not comply with these policies will be removed from the facility.
5. All visitors are strongly encouraged to have been vaccinated, boosted, or to have received a negative COVID-19 test within the past 24 hours.
6. As an alternative to in-person visitation, care partners are encouraged to communicate with patient and/or treating medical team via electronic devices with phone calls, video calls, etc.
Mercy Health Services Visitor Policy
Inpatient Areas, Outpatient Areas including Physician Practices, Surgery/Procedure Areas, Emergency Department
- Inpatient Floors
- Visiting hours: 8 am to 8 pm
- Two care partners at a time (allowed to switch out)
- One care partner permitted overnight
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Visiting hours: 24/7
- Two care partners at a time (allowed to switch out)
- One care partner permitted overnight
- Labor & Delivery
- Visiting hours: 24/7
- Up to three care partners allowed at a time (two visitors in addition to the parent/primary care giver)
- One care partner allowed at the bedside in PACU/recovery/triage area
- Mother-Baby
- Visiting hours: 24/7 for parents/primary care givers
- Up to three care partners allowed at a time during visiting hours of 8 am to 8 pm
- Siblings allowed to visit during visiting hours (included in total number of visitors)
- One care partner permitted overnight
- Pediatrics/NICU
- Visiting hours: 24/7 for parents/primary care givers
- Up to four care partners allowed at a time (two grandparents or up to two siblings of the infant in addition to the parents/primary caregivers) during visiting hours of 8 am to 8 pm
- Care partners must be identified upon admission and remain the same for the entire stay
- Outpatient Areas
- Two care partners allowed
- Additional visitors allowed at the discretion of the physician/practice site
- Emergency Department
- Visiting hours: 24/7
- One care partner allowed at a time
- Additional visitors allowed at the discretion of the medical team
Exceptions to the visitor policy will be permitted under specific circumstances detailed below:
- Additional care partners permitted at the discretion of the medical team for family meetings, end-of-life care, or end-of-life decision making
- Nursing Home patients may be escorted by a properly identified staff member
- Support person for patients with the following:
- Physical disability
- Difficulty with mobility
- Cognitive needs
- Support person includes person legally authorized to make decisions for the patient with disability, family member, care giver, personal care assistant or disability service provider, or person to provide interpretive services
For any exceptions not listed above, individuals may be permitted at the discretion of the medical team.
- Stella Maris
- Please refer to Stella Maris Visitor Policies.
- Transitional Care Services
- Please refer to the TCU policy for additional information.
- Vendors/Contractors
- If on official business, vendors/contractors are allowed on campus.