Visitor Information & Policies

Per updated guidance from the California Department of Public Health, visitors are no longer required to show proof of vaccination or of negative COVID-19 test result to visit their family or friends in the hospital.

Family support is an important aspect of patient recovery while in the hospital. In order to support the needs of the patient while providing optimum safety and privacy for patients at San Joaquin General Hospital, the following visiting guidelines have been developed.

Because patients are our greatest concern, visitor and family members must be free from colds or flu-like symptoms, runny nose, or sore throat, cough, rash, or any recent exposure to a contagious disease; i.e., chicken pox, COVID-19 etc. Visitors experiencing any of these conditions are asked to postpone their visit.

General Guidelines:

Additional guidelines for specific areas are listed below this section

1. Visiting Hours are from 11am to 8pm.
• Parents of a pediatric patient may visit at anytime. Accommodations will be provided for one parent to stay with the hospitalized child at night.
• Patients in critical status, at end-of-life, or patients with physical, intellectual, and/or developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments may be visited at any time as their condition allows.
• Visitors may be asked to leave during doctor’s rounds, emergency in the patient’s room or unit, medical procedures in progress, etc.
• The patient has the right to refuse to see any prospective visitor. The hospital staff will support the patient’s decision.
2. Visitors must go to the Security Operations Booth to register and receive a visitor pass, which allows access to a designated area.
3. The number of visitors at one time is limited to two (2) per patient.
• This number may be increased if the patient is in a room alone.
• Children under the age of twelve (12) are not allowed to visit without permission from the Nurse. When children are allowed in patient care areas, they must be accompanied by an adult and are to be supervised at all times during the visit.
4. Visitors must comply with all isolation precautions in place for the patient they are visiting.
• All visitors are requested to wash their hands before and after visiting.
5. No food or beverages may be brought to a patient unless there is a written order by the patient’s physician.
6. Smoking is not permitted in the hospital or the hospital grounds.
7. Telephone calls to patient rooms can be received from 8 am to 9 pm daily. Calls will be routed to the nurses’ station after 9 pm.
8. Cellular phones may be used by patients/visitors while in the hospital. However, the use of cellular phones must comply with the maintenance of patient confidentiality and a quiet and restful environment. Patients/visitors use of cellular phones will be discontinued if noise, photo taking or other disruptive use impacts patient care or a quiet healing environment, or confidentiality.
9. Consumption of food and beverages by visitors shall be restricted to the following areas:
• Cafeteria (open Sunday through Saturday) Hours:7 am- 6 pm
• Buffeteria (open 24 hours – located in the old hospital)
• Hospital vending area located next to Security (open 24 hours)
• Outside picnic areas o) Visiting waiting rooms have been established for use of multiple patient families and we must ensure access and use by all visitors. Visitors are not allowed to use waiting areas for consumption or preparation of food and beverages.
10. Use of electrical equipment such as radios, coffee pots, and hot plates shall be prohibited.
11. Visitors shall not be allowed to sleep on floors in waiting areas, consultation rooms, or in hallways utilizing sleeping bags or hospital linens.
• Consultation rooms have been provided for use by the medical and nursing staff for private patient consultations. Under no circumstances shall consultation rooms be used for visitor sleepover rooms.
12. In situations where visitors are non-compliant with visiting policies, Security may be called to escort them out of the hospital.

Pediatrics

1. Parents may visit at anytime. Accommodations will be provided for one parent to stay with the hospitalized child at night.
2. Other family members are encouraged to visit between 11 am and 8 pm and must be accompanied by a parent of the hospitalized child.
3. Visiting is limited to two (2) visitors per patient.
4. Brothers and sisters under the age of twelve (12) may visit for short periods with the approval of the charge nurse or the patient’s nurse.

Labor and Delivery Setting (Family Centered Maternity Care)

1. Father of the baby or support person is allowed to visit at any time.
2. Visitors are limited to two (2) per patient at a time (excluding the father of the baby or the support person).
3. Siblings (regardless of age) are allowed to visit from 5 pm to 8 pm.
4. No visitors under the age of sixteen (16) years old.
5. Visitors are requested to wash their hands before and after visiting.

Post-Partum Setting (Family Centered Maternity Care)

1. Visiting hours are 11 am to 8 pm.
2. The father of the baby or support person is allowed at all times.
3. Limit of three (3) visitors at a time (including adults and children).
4. Siblings (regardless of age) are allowed to visit from 5 pm to 8 pm.
5. No visitors under the age of sixteen (16) years.
6. Visitors are requested to wash their hands before and after visiting.

Intensive Care Nursery

1. Parents and visitors must wash their hands for two (2) minutes using our scrub brushes upon entry/re-entry into the NICU and after contact with bodily fluids.
2. Only two (2) visitors are allowed at the bedside at any given time.
3. Parents may designate up to four (4) people (over the age of 18 years) who may visit the infant when a parent(s) is/are not present.
4. Parents and designated visitors are encouraged to visit day or night.
5. Information regarding infant’s condition will be given only to the parents. Family members and friends contacting the NICU will be referred to the parents for information.
6. Cell phones must be wiped with an alcohol swab and placed inside a sealed plastic bag upon entry to the NICU. Calls and call volume should be kept to a minimum. Cell phone usage may be restricted at staff discretion to maintain a quiet environment and minimal stimulation requirements for our patients.
7. Bonding rooms: Use of bonding rooms for NICU families is reviewed every 24 hours. Each request is reviewed and prioritized according to NICU patient and family needs, prioritizing breastfeeding mothers. Use may be deferred or denied if the bonding rooms are needed to be assigned for patient care. Any parents requesting to stay overnight will be required to participate in their baby’s care for each assessment and feeding times.

Intensive Care Unit

1. All visitors are requested to stop at the nursing station prior to visiting.
2. All Visitors must wash their hands prior to visiting patients.
3. Live plants or flowers are not allowed.
4. Visitors are allowed at all times unless it interferes with patient care – this decision is at the discretion of the nurse and/or patient.

Dialysis Unit

No visitors are allowed during initiation and termination of dialysis, or during emergency procedures.

Short Stay Surgery Unit

Family members and/or significant others are encouraged to be with patient before and after surgery.

PACU

Family members and/or significant others are encouraged to be with patient under the following circumstances:

1. Parents, grandparents, caretakers of children will be allowed as soon as the child reaches the PACU.
2. English-speaking family members will be allowed when patients are unable to understand and/or communicate in English.
3. Caregivers for developmentally disabled patients will be allowed as soon as those patients reach the PACU.
4. Others are allowed when PACU activities would not cause anxiety to the family and/or when their presence will assist in helping the patient’s emotional comfort and well-being.

Emergency Department

1. Family members and/or visitors will be permitted to accompany patients into the Emergency Department area.
• Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis for critical status patients.
2. If it is determined by the Medical Staff that the patient’s care may be compromised by the presence of visitors, short term limitations may be placed on access.