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 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 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

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.

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.

All visitors will be screened for the following and may or may not be allowed to visit or stay based on:

  • Symptom Screening
    All visitors will be asked about symptoms and if they’ve had a fever in the last 24 hours upon entering any of our facilities. If a visitor presents with cold or flu-like symptoms, 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.
  • COVID-19 Exposure
    If any visitor has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 10 days or has been advised to self-quarantine because of exposure to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, they will not be allowed to visit.

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.