Visiting Hours & Patient Visitation Rights

Bristol Health is taking the necessary measures to keep patients and visitors safe, encouraging hand cleaning and the mandatory wearing of protective masks to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in the healthcare setting. These measures are to protect our patients, visitors and staff.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending anyone who is returning from an area affected by the coronavirus isolate themselves to reduce the chances of spreading the virus.

Our Compassionate Visitation policy is in effect.

(Policy outlined here will go into effect July 18, 2022)
 

• All visitors must be 18 years of age or older
• A face mask must be worn at all times over your nose and mouth at our facility. Anyone who does not comply will not be permitted at any of our facilities.
• Everyone entering our facilities must complete COVID-19 screening protocol, including temperature reading and hand sanitizing at one of the stations upon checking in with security
• Humanitarian exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Any request for an exception must be directed to the Nurse Manager or to the Nursing Supervisor during the off-shift and weekends. 

Hospital In-Patient Units (F, G, ICU)

• Two visitors (2) will be allowed per patient, per day at a time during visitation hours of 11AM- 7PM. It does not have to be the same 2 visitors throughout the day. They can change out throughout the day.

Behavioral Health (Barnes)

• Two visitors (2) per visitation timeblock
• Visitation hours are Monday to Friday from 6PM-7PM, Weekends and Holidays 1PM-2PM, 6PM-7PM

Senior Behavioral Health Unit (SBHU)

• If exceptions are granted, visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
• Humanitarian exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Any request for an exception must be directed to the Nurse Manager, or to the Nursing Supervisor during the off-shift and weekends.

 Emergency Center

• If exceptions are granted, visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
• Humanitarian exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Any request for an exception must be directed to the Nurse Manager, or to the Nursing Supervisor during the off-shift and weekends.

Families are First Birthing Center

• Each patient is allowed one support person (e.g. husband, significant other, family)
• Support persons will be screened and must wear a mask and remain in the room
• No other visitors are allowed

Center for Surgery

• If exceptions are granted, visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
• Humanitarian exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Any request for an exception must be directed to the Nurse Manager, or to the Nursing Supervisor during the off-shift and weekends.

Hospital Outpatient Services

• Patients may be accompanied by one support person who is essential to their care.
• Support persons will be screened and must wear a mask over their nose and mouth for the duration of their time at the facility.
• Humanitarian exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Requests for exceptions should be directed to the appropriate Department Director

Virtual Visits: Holding patient safety to the highest regard, we are offering virtual visits through Telehealth. A Telehealth visit can be done in the comfort of your home and allow you to connect with your individual provider concerning your health care needs. Click here to learn more on Telehealth.  

Virtual Resources

• While we have limited visitation for inpatients, we encourage you to use digital resources to connect with your family and friends in the hospital and to assist them with their care.
• Zoom is a video conferencing app that can be accessed on smartphones, tablets or computers.  All of our inpatient units have access to ipads for patient use.  Patients can ask someone from their care team for additional information or reach out to a member from Patient Relations to help arrange at (860) 585-3269. How to Download and Use Zoom
• FaceTime is a free video calling app available on iPhone or iPad devices that allows you to make calls with your loved ones who also have Apple devices. All of our inpatient units have access to ipads for patient use.  Patients can ask someone from their care team for additional information or reach out to a member from Patient Relations to help arrange at (860) 585-3269. How to Download and Use FaceTime

Patient Visitation Rights

At Bristol Hospital we recognize the importance of support from family, loved ones and friends in a patient’s recovery process. Bristol Hospital’s visiting hours have been established to be as convenient as possible for family and friends while providing appropriate time for patients to sleep, be cared for and recover. The following are guidelines. Please know that they can be modified at any time based on specific patient needs.

As a patient at Bristol Hospital, you have the right to:

1. Designate the individuals you would like to visit you during your hospital stay including, but not limited to, family members, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner) or a friend.

2. Have all designated visitors enjoy the same visitation privileges that immediate family members would enjoy;

3. Withdraw or deny your consent for certain designated visitors.

4. Receive those visitors designated by you during normal visitation hours (generally, 11:00AM until 8:00PM, but individual departments may have different visitation guidelines to ensure patient safety).

5. Designate a maximum of two (2) visitors at the bedside.

6. Not have visitation privileges restricted, limited, or otherwise denied on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, payment source, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Please be aware that certain clinical restrictions or limitations, as outlined below, may apply to your visitation rights:

1. Visitation may be restricted for the health and safety of the patient or hospital staff, at the discretion of the hospital.

2. Visitors may be asked to leave the patient care area at any time to facilitate physician/nursing care and/or procedures.

3. Visits that are not beneficial, therapeutic or that place the patient and/or visitor at risk for infectious disease may be restricted as deemed appropriate by the patient care team.

4. Designated visitors who have experienced a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, skin rash, vomiting or diarrhea in the 48 hour period prior to the visit may be discouraged from visiting to ensure patient and hospital staff health and safety.

5. Visitors who are disruptive or disturb patients, staff or other visitors will be asked to stop the disruptive behavior and/or may be escorted from the premises by Security if such behavior does not cease.

Designated visitors within a patient room shall be limited as indicated by the department specific guidelines in order to ensure utmost patient safety and efficient department operation. For specific visitation guidelines for your department area, please ask the nursing staff or the Department Director in your area. A copy of Bristol Hospital’s hospital-wide policy on visitation is available upon request.