Visitor Information & Campus Safety at GBMC
At GBMC HealthCare, the safety and comfort of our patients, visitors, and team members is a top priority. Like hospitals across the country, we are continually strengthening our campus safety practices to reflect the expectations of the people we serve and the standards of our industry.
These updates have been shaped by feedback from our employees, patients, and visitors—and they bring GBMC in line with practices already in place at hospitals in our region and nationwide.
What to Expect When You Visit
- Check in with photo ID. When you arrive at GBMC, you’ll be asked to check in at a visitor station and present a photo ID (driver’s license or state-issued ID preferred, but we do accept a variety of photo ID types). You’ll receive a printed visitor badge to wear during your visit. Forms of acceptable ID follow below:
- Monitored entrances. We have streamlined the number of open access points on the hospital campus so that all entrances are actively monitored. This helps us ensure the safety of everyone in our buildings.
- Frequent visitors. If you visit GBMC regularly for ongoing treatment, your care team can arrange a badge for the duration of your care so you can move through check-in quickly.
Coming Soon: Weapons Detection
We are in the process of implementing weapons detection technology, beginning in our Emergency Department and OB entrance. This is an additional step to protect patients, visitors, and staff in high-volume areas.
Why We’re Making These Changes
Healthcare facilities across the nation face unique safety challenges. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the health care and social assistance sector experienced 41,960 nonfatal workplace violence cases in 2021–2022—cases serious enough to involve days away from work, job restriction, or job transfer. The American Hospital Association estimates that hospitals spent $3.62 billion on prevention in 2023, while post-event costs reached $14.65 billion.
GBMC is part of an Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) network focused on workplace violence prevention, collaborating with healthcare organizations across the country to share best practices.
These changes are not a response to a specific incident at GBMC. They are the natural next step in an ongoing commitment to align our safety practices with the best in healthcare and to honor the feedback of the people we serve.
Questions?
If you have questions about visiting GBMC or about our campus safety practices, please email gbmcsecurity@gbmc.org.
Visitor Guidelines
GBMC has updated its Visitor Policy for inpatients and outpatients at GBMC hospital.
Please note: Visitor guidelines on individual units may differ from the below hospital guidelines. Visitation guidelines may be adjusted at the discretion of unit-level leaders as they consider the needs of all our patients and/or to ensure a safe, healing environment. We strive to explain the reason(s) if restrictions to the guidelines are needed.
The following changes are effective immediately:
- Visiting hours are now from 8am — 9pm, unless otherwise specified.
- One visitor may stay with the patient overnight (9pm — 8am), unless otherwise specified.
- No more than four visitors may enter the patient room at one time, unless otherwise specified.
- Visitors under the age of 10 years are now permitted to visit inpatient areas. They must remain under the supervision of a responsible adult who is not a patient.
- Visitors under the age of 14 must remain under the supervision of a responsible visiting adult. A patient may not be the designated adult.
- No children under 18 may stay overnight.
- Visitation guidelines will reflect our Zero Tolerance policy as it relates to disruptive behavior.
- There will be no limitations on visiting COVID-19 patients, but visitors will be required to comply with all infection control guidelines including wearing personal protective equipment.
As a reminder, GBMC HealthCare discontinued universal masking in its facilities due to the availability of vaccines, effective treatments, and decline in community transmission rates. Staff members, patients, and visitors are no longer required to wear masks under most circumstances when inside GBMC HealthCare facilities, including GBMC hospital, outpatient areas, and GBMC Health Partners practices.
Thank you for being a valued GBMC HealthCare patient — we look forward to caring for you and your family for many years to come.