For Hospital Patients & Visitors
Visitation at Meritus Health:
Meritus welcomes loved ones to visit a patient. Our policies are meant to respond to each patient’s diverse and individual needs. Visitation will be balanced with patient and staff safety, while protecting the privacy of all patients.
Family members and visitors collaborate with the nursing staff to coordinate visitation as directed by the patient and as appropriate to the patient's medical diagnosis and safety. In an emergency situation, visitors may be asked to leave at the staff's discretion.
Visitors are required to wash their hands before and after spending time with a patient. Visitors ages 16 and older will need to show photo I.D. and wear a visitor badge while they are on campus. For everyone’s safety, we do a metal detection screening when you arrive.
Visitors may be subject to health screening and be asked to leave if they are ill, have skin infections, or have recently been exposed to highly communicable infectious diseases such as chicken pox, influenza, gastrointestinal illness, or COVID-19.
Meritus will not restrict, limit or otherwise deny the family presence or visitation privileges based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
Meritus is currently operating under Green Visitation:
In most cases, we allow unrestricted visitation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please review the guidelines below to understand our restrictions:
Emergency Department
Due to limited space and to maintain confidentiality, we encourage no more than 2 visitors at the patient’s bedside.
Pediatric Patients may have both parents at the bedside. The patients’ parents will be provided armbands with the patient's name.
Behavioral Health Unit (1 West)
All patients may have visitors over the age of 12 unless the physician indicates otherwise. If a physician allows, children under the age of 12 may visit if they are supervised by an adult.
Routine visiting hours via Zoom or In-person will be 1800-2000, Sunday – Saturday, and hospital-recognized holidays / patient faith-based holidays.
Patients are limited to two visitors at a time.
Women and Children’s Unit
Family Birthing Unit
- No visitors under the age of 12 years old unless a sibling of a newborn.
- Young siblings must be accompanied and cared for by an adult other than the patient.
- After delivery, one adult may stay overnight with the patients.
- Each patient room may have 3 visitors (labor and postpartum). They may change out, but these 3 must include siblings. Additional visitors must wait in the Welcome Center.
- There will be no change out of the 3 support persons for the first golden hour after delivery when the baby is skin-to-skin with the mother.
Special Care Nursery
- We encourage parents to visit as often as possible and do not restrict visitation hours in the Special Care Nursery.
- Parents will be allowed to provide a list of names for up to four family members/friends who may visit their baby in their absence.
- Parents may accompany other visitors who are not on the list. Any non-family visitors must be over the age of 18.
- Visitors should be limited to 2 at a time at the bedside unless special arrangements have been made with the nursing staff.
- Before a sibling visit, a health screening questionnaire will need to be completed by a parent.
- Visitors are encouraged to keep noise and stimulation, such as from cell phones to a minimum while visiting the Special Care Nursery.
Other Helpful Information:
Parking
Upon your arrival to Meritus Medical Center, you may park in a parking space of your choosing. Employees have been asked to park in the yellow-lined spaces only, to allow patients and visitors access to the spaces closer to the facilities.
Gift Shop
The Gift Shop at Meritus Medical Center is located inside the main entrance to the right of the reception area. Any of the gift shop items may be delivered to patients and staff within the hospital by calling 800-386-5128. Please have your credit card number ready, along with the patient or staff member's name and room number or department, and your gift will be delivered promptly.
Dining
Meritus Medical Center dining options include the Robin's Cove and the Coffee Kiosk. All of our dining options accept major credit cards, cash, or gift certificates, which are available from the hospital cashier.
The Robin's Cove is located on the bottom level, easily accessed by the elevators down the hall to the right of the main entrance. Open 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m., the Cove serves hot meals from 6:00 am - 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., daily.
The Coffee Shop is located in the main lobby of the hospital, near the gift shop. The Coffee Shop offers a variety of freshly-brewed coffee, tea, and other specialty drinks as well as yogurt, fresh fruits, bagels, and pastries. The Coffee Shop is open from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Internet Access
There is a public computer kiosk to access the internet located in the outpatient testing waiting area. In addition, a wireless network named "MH Guest" is available for use throughout the hospital. To access MH Guest, connect your wireless device to the network, then open an internet browser and read and agree to the terms and conditions. There is no charge to patients or visitors for internet access.
A visitor is a guest of the patient and family, and is anyone whom the patient or proxy determines is significant to his/her well-being, and whose presence enhances the patient experience of care. In some cases, visitors may be relatives.
Family is defined by the patient as the people who provide the primary physical, psychological, or emotional support for the patient. Family is not necessarily blood relatives. When the patient is unable to define the family, the patient’s designated representative provides the definition. Family members are encouraged to be involved and supportive of the patient and are integral to the overall well-being of the patient.
The hospital will not restrict, limit or otherwise deny family presence or visitation privileges based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
Meritus Medical Center Security Measures
To help ensure the safety of all, please be prepared for these changes as you access the hospital:
- Photo I.D. required at entry for patients and visitors ages 16 and older
- Visitor badge provided at entry
- Metal detection screening at entry
- Employees - Badge should be visible
