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Patients & Visitors

Whether you are a patient or a visitor, we want your experience at Stephens Memorial Hospital to be as pleasant as possible. The information below should answer many of your questions. And once you arrive, our care team members are here to help in person. We look forward to providing you and your loved ones with a supportive and healing health care experience.

Visitation Safety Measures - Effective 8/1/22

To help prevent community spread of COVID-19, we have implemented temporary visitation safety measures at Stephens Memorial Hospital as of August 1, 2022.

Hospital Inpatient Areas (Visit times to be managed by the care team):

  • Medical/Surgical Unit: Two visitors at a time between 10 am and 8 pm. Exceptions may be made at the time of unit admission or for care plan discussions.
  • Special Care Unit: Two visitors at a time between 10 am and 8 pm. Exceptions may be made at the time of unit admission or for care plan discussions.
  • Pediatrics: Two parents/guardians at a time allowed in all areas, provided space is sufficient to achieve compliance with social distancing.
  • Obstetrics: Two visitors at a time, including spouse/coach/child. A doula may be permitted when the obstetrician is aware of their requested presence and they have been part of the prenatal process.
  • End of Life in any inpatient area: Up to four adults at a time may visit patients at end of life or on comfort care. Visit times to be managed by the care team.
Patient Discharges: Patients will be brought to the appropriate entrance/exit for pick-up.

Outpatient Surgery and Procedural Areas: One visitor is allowed for adult patients, and pediatric patients may be accompanied by two parents/guardians, provided space is sufficient to achieve compliance with social distancing.

Emergency Department (ED): One visitor at a time is allowed for adult patients, and pediatric patients may be accompanied by two parents/guardians, provided space is sufficient to achieve compliance with social distancing.

Ambulatory/Diagnostic Areas: One visitor is allowed for adult patients, and pediatric patients may be accompanied by two parents/guardians, provided space is sufficient to achieve compliance with social distancing.

Patients Requiring Special Assistance: Patients in any care setting who need help, such as with mobility or communications with the care team about their medical history or care, may be assisted by one adult escort to provide the needed assistance or support, such necessity to be determined by the care team.

Screening and Logging of Visitors: All visitors/escorts are subject to screening for COVID-19. Their entrance will be logged, and contain the date, visitor(s) name, and contact information for contract tracing as needed. Visitor tags should be provided and worn by the visitor(s). 

Visitors/Escorts with any COVID-19 symptoms or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 10 days – regardless of vaccination or testing status – will NOT be allowed to enter hospital facilities. Visitors/escorts who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the past five days cannot enter unless up to date on recommended vaccinations.

All visitors and escorts must:

  1. Perform hand hygiene prior to entering and upon leaving the patient’s room/care area;
  2. Remain at least six feet from the patient at all times (as much as possible);
  3. Wear a procedural mask at all times while in the facility, including patient rooms;
  4. Cover mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing, use and dispose of tissues and perform hand hygiene after contact with respiratory secretions; and
  5. Not go to any locations in the facility other than the room of the patient they are visiting.

Visitors are not permitted for Patients Under Investigation (PUI) or patients positive for COVID-19, except for end of life. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis and must be approved by the attending provider, Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Nursing Officer.

The hospital cafeteria is closed to visitors.

These Visitation Safety Measures are for the protection of patients, employees, visitors and the public, are consistent with guidance from governmental authorities, and are adopted for the purpose of reducing the potential for propagation of the COVID-19 virus.