Important Information About Visitation Guidelines

at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

Effective April 1, 2024

Important Notice

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton is informing our community the hospital is NOT A COVID-19 TESTING SITE (ESTE NO ES UN SITIO DE PRUEBA DE COVID-19). We are not providing COVID-19 testing to the general public. Our Emergency Department should be used for true medical emergencies. Please visit Mercer County COVID-19 Testing Sites for more information.

We thank you for your cooperation.

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday thru Sunday, for all inpatient care units.

Please be aware of the following guidelines before visiting:

• Inpatient acute care units: Two visitor allowed.

• Emergency Department: Two visitor allowed.

• Surgery: Provided social distancing can be accomplished, one visitor is allowed for surgery and procedure patients until the patient is taken to the pre-op area. One visitor is allowed when patient is in recovery and preparing for discharge.

• End-of-life: No limit on number of visitors permitted, provided care team approves and deems it is safe and feasible to meet social distancing guidelines. Patients who are critically ill and patients at end of life: Every effort will be made to accommodate a patient’s and family’s need for extended periods of visiting.

• COVID-19-positive patients: No visitors are permitted except for circumstances approved by the care team.

• Immunocompromised patients: No visitors are allowed except for circumstances approved by the care team.
• Pediatric psychiatric patients: Only one visitor is allowed if/when a mutual agreement between the care team and the parents/guardian has been reached. Patients with a physical or cognitive disability, who have a designated caregiver: Two visitors are allowed.
• Patients with disabilities where the disability may be due to altered mental status, intellectual or cognitive disability, communication barriers or behavioral concerns: ONE designated support person is allowed to remain with the patient.
• Age restriction only applies to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); No children under the age of 12 will be permitted unless authorized and approved for special circumstances.

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

All visitors are expected to adhere to the following safety protocols:

• Clean your hands before and after your visit.
• Be aware of maintaining physical distancing.

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. When indicated, visitors are required to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment, provided at the Security desks at the hospital entrances. They may wear their own face mask/covering. If they do not have their own face mask/covering they will be provided one. An instruction sheet about how to wear face masks is posted throughout our facilities.
• 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

RWJBH has iPads for your use if you do not have access to a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Please email hamiltonvirtualvisits@rwjbh.org your name and best contact phone # and someone will follow up with you.

You can also call the main 609-586-7900 and let the operator know you are interested in a virtual visit.

In-Room Virtual Visits

We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.