Visitor guidelines
Visitor guidelines
Hospital and clinic visitor guidelines
As of January 7, 2021, visitor status is yellow.
To protect the health and safety of our patients and care teams, Allina Health has updated our visitor guidelines. As we continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19, the visitor guidelines will be updated as needed to help keep patients, staff and you safe. Check back often for the most current guidelines. More information and any exceptions to these updated guidelines are explained below.
These are the limited exceptions for visitors while in YELLOW status:
Yellow status:
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., one visitor for each patient will be allowed each day. Any variations to the following list of exceptions must be approved by the supervisor.
- Adult patients: One visitor is allowed before a patient’s surgery and can return after the surgery. The visitor can wait in the waiting room or the patient’s room (if available).
- If the waiting room is full, visitors may be asked to wait outside the building.
- Pediatric patients: Two parents or legal guardians for each patient will be allowed in the room. Parents or legal guardians may stay overnight according to the usual policy.
Yellow status:
- Adult patients: One visitor is allowed before a patient’s surgery and can return after the surgery. The visitor can wait in the waiting room or the patient’s room (if available).
- If the waiting room is full, visitors may be asked to wait outside the building.
- Pediatric patients: Two parents or legal guardians may visit before and after surgery. Visitors can wait in the waiting room or the patient’s room (if available).
Yellow status:
- One visitor for each patient is allowed.
- Pediatric patients may have two visitors (parents or legal guardians).
- If the waiting room is full, visitors may be asked to wait outside the building.
Yellow status:
One support person is allowed. This includes triage, labor, delivery and post-partum areas. In addition to one support person, a trained doula will be allowed for support only during labor and delivery. Learn more about the birth center support person guidelines.
Newborns: No visitors other than two parents, guardians, primary caretakers, or intended parents in surrogate birth. Exceptions will be considered for compassionate care.
Yellow status:
Compassionate care exceptions are made for patients who:
- are actively dying
- have sudden decline in medical condition
- are having surgery
Case-by-case exceptions are made with the clinical team, patient care manager, house supervisor, or all. Consideration may be given to patients who have extended length of stays.
Yellow status:
No visitors are allowed for patients receiving mental health care. The following are the exceptions to this guideline as conditions allow:
- Child and adolescent patients: Two parents or legal guardians will be allowed.
- Patients who require help due to an impairment or disability: One legal guardian will be allowed.
Yellow status:
A caregiver may need to help when a patient is ready to go home. Discharge planning is important to maintain patient safety.
- One visitor for each patient is allowed to help with the discharge process.
- The patient care manager or designee can help decide which caregiver can visit and when is the best time for the visit.
- In most cases, discharge planning happens on the day the patient is going home.
Yellow status:
- A patient younger than age 18 may have one parent or legal guardian visitor.
- One visitor (age 18 or older) may accompany patients who need help due to disability or impairment. The visitor must pass the COVID-19 symptom screening.
- Patients who do not need help during an appointment should come alone.
Visitor guidelines (for limited exceptions)
If you qualify for a visitor exception, these guidelines must be followed:
- You will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and must pass the screening to visit a patient. If you leave the building you must show your screening sticker or be re-screened to re-enter.
- You must wear a mask, visitor badge and screening sticker at all times during your visit.
- You must have good hand hygiene and practice physical distancing during the visit. Hand sanitizer is located at all building entrances and on patient care units.
- If the waiting room is full, you may be asked to wait outside the building.
- You should visit only the patient’s room and avoid other areas. You may be asked to step out of the room during an exam or treatment.
Visitors under the age of 18 will only be allowed if a compassionate exception has been granted.
For family and friends
It is difficult when a loved a family member or friend is in the hospital and you are not able to visit them. During these difficult times, the support you can provide will look different, but this is important to help keep everyone safe.
Tips for staying connected with a family member or friend when they are in the hospital:
- Take advantage of virtual communication tools as explained in How to Contact a Patient in the Hospital.
- Designate a family spokesperson to serve as the link between the person in the hospital, health care providers, and family, friends and loved ones.
- Ask if the family spokesperson can call the hospital each day for an update to pass along. Ask the hospital what time would be best for a daily phone call.
- Leave the family spokesperson's phone number with the hospital staff in the event your family member or friend has a change in condition.
- Consider using internet-based social media applications like CaringBridge or Facebook to provide timely updates to others.
Allina Health’s patient video conferencing service, Care to Connect, allows you to connect remotely with your family member or friend via video if they don’t have or are unable to use their own internet-enabled device.