Visitor Restrictions and Mask Use

OhioHealth visitor policies and mask use

OhioHealth continues to operate under the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance for healthcare settings. The OhioHealth Visitor Policy supports a patient-family centered care model while the patient is at an OhioHealth location.

All visitors must:

• Must be asymptomatic and pass required screenings.
• Wear a hospital-provided mask at all times, unless eating or drinking.

Inpatient visitor guidelines

• Inpatients may have two designated adult visitors that may visit 24/7. These visitors will be identified by a pink wrist band.
• Designated visitor cannot be under 18.
• One of the two designated visitors may stay overnight if clinically supported.
• Caretaker for patient or visitor will count as one of the two designated visitors.
• The patient may change the two designated visitors in collaboration with their nursing team. The change will then be updated in the patient's visitor information.

General visitation will be from 10 AM to 8 PM daily. 

• General visitation hours do not apply to the two inpatient designated visitors, maternity or behavioral health patients.
• Minors must always be accompanied by an adult.
• Clinical care needs or double occupancy rooms may limit two visitors per patient at a time.
• Designated visitors cannot be under 18.

Behavioral health patients will continue with the scheduled visitation process of one visitor daily from 6 PM to 7 PM.

Maternity patients may have two designated support persons and visitors during general visitation hours.

• One of the support persons may stay overnight. 
• Doulas are permitted in addition to the two designated support persons. 
  • If the patient is a minor, they may have both parents or guardians in addition to the other parent of the baby, with one allowed to stay overnight.
  • Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) will follow Nationwide Children’s Hospital visitor management policy.
  • Maternity general visitation will be from 3 PM to 8 PM for adults and siblings. Only designated visitors, siblings and two adult visitors are allowed in the room at one time.

Special isolation and COVID-19 patients may have visitors from 10 AM to 8 PM daily.

• Two designated visitors are allowed for the duration of the time the patient is in isolation.
• Only one visitor may be in the room at one time. Once the visitor exits the isolation room, they will be asked to leave the care site until the next day.
  • Exception: Caretakers are not restricted to visiting hours and can remain in the room at the same time as a designated visitor.

Emergency department patients may have up to two adult visitors at the bedside depending on the situation. Other visitors may wait in public waiting areas.

Outpatient visitor guidelines

Same-day surgery, procedural area and OhioHealth Physician Group outpatients may have up to two adult visitors at the bedside or exam room when clinically appropriate. Other visitors may wait in family or public waiting areas.

Exceptions:

• Patient caretakers:
  • Caretakers will count as one of two designated visitors.
  • The clinical team must confirm that a caretaker is required to support patient care.
  • Patient is dependent on caretaker prior to admission to perform basic tasks, such as feeding, bathing, toileting and communication.
  • Patient is disoriented (e.g., traumatic brain injury, dementia, Alzheimer’s, altered mental state).
• Patient with disabilities (e.g. development, hearing, autism).
• Patient needs an interpreter.
• Patient receiving end-of-life care:
  • Hospice and end-of-life patients may have adult visitors at any given time and minor visitors accompanied by an adult with approval from the clinical team. There is no maximum number of visitors per day, but clinical care needs may limit number of visitors in the room at a time.
• Special circumstances: Determined by clinical team.

Patient and visitor face mask use

Centers for Disease Control recommendations for hospitals and healthcare settings are different than other public settings that have begun to relax mask and social distancing requirements. Many of our patients face a higher risk of infection to COVID-19, and we must continue to do all we can to make OhioHealth a safe place for all patients.

OhioHealth continues to require face masks for everyone: care providers, employees, patients, visitors and vendors. This requirement also applies to people who have been vaccinated. This is in keeping with the state of Ohio’s orders, which follow CDC recommendations.

Patients:

• Behavioral health patients will not be required to wear a face mask unless they are COVID-19 positive.
• Patients with a clinical indication that recommends they should not wear a face mask, such as claustrophobia, will not be required to wear one.

Visitors and vendors:

• Must wear their face mask at all times in the hospital.
• OhioHealth will provide patients and visitors with a face mask upon entering our care sites. Cloth face masks are not permitted.