Prepare for Your Visit

Patient and Visitor Guides for Our Hospitals

These guides will help you and your family prepare and be informed for a hospital stay.

Inside OhioHealth patient and visitor guides, you'll find visiting hours, instructions for nearby parking lots, hospital conveniences and even more helpful information.

Guides by OhioHealth Hospital

Visitor Restrictions and Guidelines

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 10 AM to 8 PM for adults and siblings. Only designated visitors, siblings and two adult visitors are allowed in the room at one time.

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

Masks are optional in almost all areas of OhioHealth. Masking may still be required based on specific patient situations, such as when a patient is in isolation. Masks are also recommended for anyone experiencing any respiratory symptoms. Masks will continue to be made available for those who wish to wear them.

We are a faith-based, nonprofit family of leading healthcare providers committed to delivering quality, convenient and timely healthcare to all members of the community, regardless of their ability to pay. Our hospitals regularly receive national recognition for excellence in clinical quality, patient safety and technological innovation.

Tobacco-Free Environment

To provide a healthy environment for our patients, visitors and employees, OhioHealth is a tobacco-free environment. Tobacco use (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted inside or outside any OhioHealth property.

Security at OhioHealth

Security officers are on duty at all times to help you with safety and security concerns. Weapons (including firearms) are prohibited on OhioHealth property.

Armbands for Identifying Medical Risks

While staying at the hospital, patients wear armbands of different colors.  These are used to allow our caregivers to quickly identify specific medical risks.

  • Patient ID: White
  • Allergy: Red
  • DNR Comfort Care: Purple
  • Fall Risk: Yellow
  • Extremity Not to Be Used: Orange
  • No Blood or Blood Products: White with red lettering
  • Obstructive Apnea Risk: Blue
  • Difficult Airway: Kelly green
  • Blood Product: Mint green (Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals only)