Patient Visitation Guidelines

 

You are an important member of the care team for our patients. All guidelines are for your  safety and the safety of our patients and staff, and must be followed during your visit. If you are  not able to follow these rules, you may be asked to leave. 

  • Hospital Visiting hours are 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. daily  
  • Due to a Santa Cruz County Public Health order, masks are required while in the hospital  (exception Cafeteria). Acceptable masks are a well fitting procedural, surgical, KN95 or N95 mask. Masks should cover the nose and mouth. Masks will be made available at entry.
  • If you have symptoms of illness or have been exposed to COVID, please consider visiting at another time.  
  • Visitors who have tested positive for COVID are not allowed to visit for at least five days  after a positive test, or the symptom start date.  
  • Emergency Department: One visitor/support person is allowed with the patient in the lobby and room.

Patients on isolation precautions (including COVID-19 positive patients)

  • Visitors for COVID-19 positive patients have special restrictions and will be given a guidelines instructions sheet with required PPE to wear.
    • Special information will also be given to the visitor by the nursing supervisor or nurse  that outlines the risks, benefits and alternatives to an in-person visit.
  • Visitors should not be present in the room during any aerosol-generating procedure.

Exceptions to Visitation Hours

  • Exceptions are allowed for pediatric patients and patients with physical, intellectual, developmental disability or cognitive impairments.
    • Cognitive impairment is defined as someone who has trouble remembering, concentrating, communicating or making decisions that affect their ability to receive medical care.
  • End of life patients
  • Patients with these exceptions may have visitors outside of normal visiting hours.
  • The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has unit based visitor guidelines.
  • Exceptions must be authorized by the Nursing Supervisor or the Administrator-on-Call.

Package Deliveries for Patients

Due to patient safety and liability concerns, Dominican Hospital cannot accept package deliveries for patients. Packages delivered to the hospital for patients (from Amazon, etc.) will be returned to the sender.

 

Updated November 1, 2024