Patients & Visitors
Visitor and Mask Guidelines (Effective Monday, March 21, 2022
Masks
Masks will be required in all areas of the hospital. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available at the main entrance and the emergency department entrance.
Visitation
Visitation Hours: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., 7 days a week
Visitation for non-COVID patients is open with the following restrictions:
- A limit of ONE (1) visitor per patient at any one time for ER and ICU
- A limit of TWO (2) visitors per patient for all other departments
- Visitors, by entry, agree to being free of COVID symptoms/exposure
- Visitors must remain in the patient’s room during their visit (except if dining in the cafeteria)
- Behavioral Health: Visitation is open with the following guidelines:
- A limit of ONE (1) visitor per patient at any one time
- Visitors and staff will be required to wear a mask at all times due to the level of patient care.
- Visitation times are: Wednesday, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
- Visitor must remain in the designated visitation area during his/her visit
Care team members are asked to practice infection prevention:
- Sanitize your hands when entering the hospital and when entering or exiting patient rooms.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow or a tissue; dispose of used tissues in the trash.
- Sanitize your hands after coughing or sneezing.
If you would like to drop off a card, gift or other message of encouragement, we are happy to deliver those to patients. You may also call a patient’s room so they can hear your voice and you can hear how they are doing. The hospital has free Wi-Fi, so you may visit patients using Facetime or another video communication app.
We appreciate your patience, understanding and compliance. With your help we can maintain a safe environment for all our patients and staff during this time of uncertainty.
At Merit Health Central, we understand that coming to the hospital as a patient or as a loved one's support person can be a difficult, often overwhelming experience. Whether you’re preparing for a hospital stay or stopping by to see friends and family, knowing where to go and what to bring will help make your visit less stressful. To make your experience easier, we want to provide you with helpful information you may need to plan your visit, such as what to expect, parking instructions, transportation and more.