Important Information About Visitation Guidelines

at Clara Maass Medical Center

Effective April 1, 2024

The safety and well-being of our patients, visitors and staff is our number one priority. Please be aware of the following guidelines before visiting one of our hospitals or health care facilities.

Visitation Guidelines

Please help us stop the spread of contagious respiratory illnesses.

Please defer your visit to another day:

1. If you have a fever or have felt feverish in the last 24 hours or are experiencing COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms. Possible symptoms include, but are not limited to:
   • Fever or chills
   • Cough
   • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
   • Fatigue
   • Muscle or body aches
   • Headache
   • New loss of taste or smell
   • Sore throat
   • Congestion or runny nose
   • Nausea or vomiting
   • Diarrhea
2. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (or another contagious respiratory illness, such as influenza or RSV), within the last 10 days.
3. If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection (or another contagious respiratory illness) in the last 10 days and cannot wear a mask – even if you are asymptomatic.

When visiting our facility, all visitors are expected to adhere to the following safety recommendations:

• Clean your hands before and after your visit.
• Maintain physical distance.

Thank you for your cooperation and your efforts to help keep our patients, staff and communities safe.

All visitation has the potential to be restricted due to a patient's clinical diagnosis.

• General Visiting Hours: Two visitors permitted - 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Maternity (Post Labor & Delivery/Post-Partum):
  • Father or significant other - Open visitation.
  • Grandparents and siblings of the baby - 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • All other visitors - 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Parent/guardian and one additional visitor - Open visitation except between 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Intensive Care Unit: Two visitors permitted - Open visitation except between 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Emergency Department: Two visitors permitted at bedside.
• Same Day Surgery (SDS): Open visitation - One visitor permitted in pre-op and post–op areas.
• Behavioral Health (by appointment): Daily - Two visitors 18 years of age and older permitted 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• COVID-19-Positive Inpatients: The visitors must stop at the nurse’s station for instruction about Personal Protective Equipment prior to entering the patient's room.

Children 12 years of age and older are permitted to visit patients in all Inpatient units. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Visitation exceptions can be made as needed to support our patients.

We encourage family members and friends to use alternative ways to interact with their loved ones, including phone calls, Facetime, Skype and other means.

Extenuating circumstances to the temporary guidelines and individual requests will always be considered based on the best interest and needs of the individual patient. These extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to:

• Patients on hospice or at the end of life
• Patients who are critically unstable
• Patients undergoing surgery or procedures
• Patients in need of a medical guardian or decision-maker
• At the discretion of the hospital, one visitor may be able to accompany a patient in Ambulatory Care or other outpatient areas

Safety Measures

If a visitor presents with cold or flu-like systems, that individual will not be allowed to visit or stay in the building. All visitors will be asked if they have been advised to self-quarantine because of exposure to someone with COVID-19. If any visitor has been advised to self-quarantine, they will not be allowed to visit. All visitors will be asked if they have been advised to isolate due to COVID-positive status in the last 10 days. If any visitor has been advised to isolate, they will not be allowed to visit.

In addition to the above, gatherings of family members, friends and other acquaintances of the patient in family lounges, waiting areas, the lobby, cafeteria or restaurants on campus will not be allowed.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Effective April 1, 2024, masking is optional for staff, providers, patients, visitors, volunteers and vendors.

Please note:

• Masking may still be required for certain patients on standard infection prevention protocols, and/or on units responsible for the care of vulnerable patients at the determination of each site.
• Masks continue to be available to staff, providers, patients, visitors, volunteers and vendors in our facilities.
• Masking is requested of all patients who present with respiratory symptoms, if tolerated, as well as all staff members and providers caring for them.
• Should a patient request their caregivers wear a mask, staff and providers are expected to comply.

If an individual is permitted to visit a COVID-19-positive patient because of extenuating circumstances or if a patient is on isolation precautions, they will be provided with and must wear appropriate PPE as recommended by the CDC. Staff will direct the visitor on the appropriate PPE.

If a visitor refuses to wear a mask or other PPE as indicated, that individual will be asked to leave the facility.

Face masks with valves will not be permitted as the valves allow unfiltered air to be released. This does not protect others from bacteria spread, per the CDC.

Prior to and During the Visit

All visitors must perform hand hygiene before visiting a patient.

Once in the hospital or facility, visitors shall remain in the patient’s room (or Emergency Department bay) as much as possible throughout the visit, except when directed by hospital or facility staff to leave during aerosol-generating procedure or other procedures in which visitors are usually asked to leave.

If an aerosol-generating procedure needs to be performed on a patient, the visitor must leave the room during the procedure and for one hour after the procedure is complete.

All visitors must comply with all reasonable requirements imposed by the hospital or facility to minimize the potential spread of infection.

Gatherings of family members, friends and other acquaintances of the patient in family lounges, waiting areas, the lobby, cafeterias or restaurants on campus is not permitted.

RWJBH understands that a hospitalization can be a stressful and uncertain time for many. The visitation policy reflects our commitment to addressing the needs of our patients while prioritizing the safety of all those who enter our facilities.

Our staff and physicians are here to support you and your loved ones and will take into consideration any requests that are made beyond the parameters of this policy in the best interest of the patient.

With guidance from the New Jersey Hospital Association, New Jersey Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and regional and local health departments, we are taking all the necessary steps to ensure the health, well-being and safety of our patients, our staff and the communities we serve.

When not available to visit, we encourage family members and friends to use alternative ways to interact with their loved ones, including phone calls, Facetime, Skype and other means.

In-Room Virtual Visits

We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.