Visitor Guidelines for Patient Care Partners During COVID-19

Greater Baltimore Medical Center has reevaluated its Modified Visitation Policy. This policy provides details for the visitation of both inpatients and outpatients at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. This policy applies to the Hospital, its physicians and clinical staff members, and all other medical and ancillary departmental personnel involved in the decision-making process with respect to patient visitation.

View Notice – Support Persons for Individuals with Disabilities

Effective 6/8/21

Inpatient Adults

• Visiting hours for inpatient adults are between 9am and 6pm.
• Each inpatient may have three designated visitors listed in their chart, but only one may visit per day. Previously, there was one designated visitor for the patient's entire length of stay. In the circumstance of end-of-life care or decision making, two visitors may be allowed at a time with pre-approval.
• No visitors under the age of 12 are allowed in adult inpatient areas (including in waiting rooms and other public areas).
• Hospital employees, not involved in the care of the patient, who would like to visit must follow current visitor guidelines/restrictions. 
• Visitors must provide a photo ID upon arrival at the visitor screening station. If a visitor does not pass the screening process or does not follow hospital protocols, they will not be allowed to visit.
• One visitor to accompany a patient with disability, as defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.
• Patients who are not suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 may receive religious services from clergy of their choice at any reasonable time if it can be provided without disruption to care. 

Emergency Department Adults

• For adult Emergency Department patients, once the patient has left the waiting area and is in a treatment room, one adult visitor will be notified to join them.
• No visitors under the age of 18 are allowed in Emergency Department areas (including in waiting rooms and other public areas), unless they are the parent of a child being treated.
• Hospital employees, not involved in the care of the patient, who would like to visit must follow current visitor guidelines/restrictions. 
• Visitors must provide a photo ID upon arrival at the visitor screening station. If a visitor does not pass the screening process or does not follow hospital protocols, they will not be allowed to visit.
• One visitor to accompany a patient with disability, as defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.

Maternal Child and Pediatrics

• Visiting hours are not restricted
• Two adult visitors may be in the triage room.
• Two adult visitors (support coach/significant other) may be in the birthing room, operating room, and PACU area. Both visitors are to be documented in the EMR and must remain the same for the patient's length of stay. Previously, only one designated visitor was permitted. 
• One adult visitor during the outpatient surgical procedures.
• If a visitor does not pass the screening process or does not follow hospital protocols, they will not be allowed to visit.
• Visitors must be at least 18 years of age, unless they are the parent of a newborn.
• Visitors must present an acceptable form of photo ID.
• Patients who are not suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 may receive religious services from clergy of their choice at any reasonable time if it can be provided without disruption to care.
• Two adults are allowed to accompany each pediatric patient, one of whom must be a guardian or parent, except in certain specific circumstances (DSS, Social Worker, Correctional or Support Staff). The two adult visitors identified must remain the same during the pediatric patient’s visit.

Surgery and Procedure Areas

• Visiting hours are not restricted
• One designated visitor may accompany the patient to the registration area regardless of visiting hours.
• The visitor can wait in the designated waiting area until they receive a call from us with updates or patient pick up time. Seating may be limited in the designated waiting area, so we offer the following alternatives for your comfort:
• Return home or wait at an off-site location (restaurant, mall, store, etc.)
• Park and wait on GBMC’s Farmhouse Hill surface lot. No fees will be charged for this location.
• Park and wait in any GBMC garage to be under cover from the weather. Please note, parking fees do apply.
• Park in either the Lily or Tulip garage and wait in the climate controlled hallway family waiting area between Lily Park and Physicians Pavilion North (PPN). Parking fees may apply. 
• Visitors shall agree to abide by all hospital and infection control regulations
• Visitation is not permitted in pre-op or PACU, unless the patient is a minor, or the patient requires a legal guardian/surrogate for consent purposes or the patient has a disability as defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.
• The visitor will be permitted in Phase II PACU for the purpose of reviewing discharge instructions and assisting the patient with dressing, etc.
• Exceptions to the visitor policy will be at the department level and a communication will be sent to visitor stations via secure chat.
• For patients who are admitted post-surgery outside of the approved hospital visitation hours, the primary visitor will be permitted to visit the patient on the inpatient unit for a period of no more than 1 hour.