Patients & VisitorsVisiting Hours and Guidelines

Important Information About Visitation Guidelines

at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital

Parking at the New Brunswick Campus

Effective December 16, 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 Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at RWJUH.

We are operating on a normal care schedule.
If there are changes to your care plan, your provider and the hospital will notify you immediately.
Valet Parking is available M-F:
• 5 am – 5 pm: Main Entrance
• 6 am – 5 pm: BMSCH Entrance
• 24-hours, 7-Days-a-Week: Vehicle Retrieval
Allow more travel time for road closure.

We're very excited to welcome you. Please be aware of our guidelines for visiting:

Visitation hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for adult patients.

There are no current age restrictions on visitors. We ask that you follow our health screening guidelines regarding exposure to contagious respiratory illnesses and flu. Masks will be provided upon arrival for those who do not have one (no cloth masks or masks with exhalation valves are permitted).

  • Adult Inpatient Non-COVID Units: Patients will be allowed two visitors.
  • Adult COVID-19 Positive Patients: Patients that are on isolation protocols for COVID-19 infections may have one visitor at the bedside. Visitors must follow Personal Protective Equipment protocols, as instructed by the unit nurses.
  • Emergency Department: Patients may be accompanied by one person.
  • Same Day Surgery, Outpatient Procedures, or Outpatient Services: One person may accompany the patient and remain in the waiting area.
  • Maternity Center:
    • Labor & Delivery: Two designated support people are permitted throughout the delivery.
    • Mother/Baby: Two visitors in addition to banded support person are welcome in the Mother-Baby unit.
    • All visitors must be 18 years or older.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital

  • General Pediatric, Adolescent, and Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit:
    • Parents and guardians may stay with the patient 24hrs, a day 7 days a week.
    • Visitors are welcomed daily from 10am – 8pm
    • Children of all ages welcomed.
    • No more than four visitors at the bedside at any given time.
  • Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU):
    • Parents and guardians may stay with the child 24hrs a day 7 days a week.
    • Children of all ages welcomed.
    • Additional visitors welcomed, with no more than two at a time at the bedside.
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
    • Parents/guardians may visit 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
    • At this time, sibling and all child visitation is suspended due to flu season.
    • No more than three visitors at a time at the bedside.
  • Pediatric Emergency Department
    • Parents and siblings may accompany patient at all times.
    • One visitor/support person welcomed in addition to parents and siblings.

Exceptions to these guidelines will be made for patients with an intellectual, developmental or other cognitive disability and for hospice or end of life situations.

Safety Measures: Symptom Screening and Personal Protective Equipment

Reglas para Visitantes (En español)

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:

  • Wear an appropriate face mask. We will offer you a new mask for source control or may ask you to replace your own mask with a hospital-supplied mask.
  • 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!

Visiting Outpatient and Medical Group Facilities

Ubicaciones de Cuidados Ambulatorios y Grupos Médicos (En español)

  • Masking is strongly encouraged for all providers, staff, patients, visitors and vendors at all times in the presence of patients.
  • Masking is REQUIRED for all patients who present with respiratory symptoms, as well as all staff members and providers caring for them.
  • Every patient has the right to request their provider(s) and/or staff wear a mask when treating them.

Upon checking in, please let a member of our team know if you are experiencing any of the following:

  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 even if you are asymptomatic.

    Prior to and During the Visit

    All visitors must perform hand hygiene before visiting a patient.

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

    We understand 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.