Visitor Restrictions and Screening Information

Due to the increase of COVID-19 infections in our community, visitors are only permitted at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in certain circumstances. Most inpatients at our hospital are permitted one nonessential visitor per day. Your safety and the safety of our staff are our top priorities. We greatly appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

As of March 2, we are welcoming visitors on a limited basis. Three categories of visitors are permitted:

• Essential visitors are visitors for patients receiving end-of-life care.
• Support persons include birth partners, parents/caregivers of pediatric patients, attorneys of patients, and designated support persons for patients with disabilities. Certain patients are allowed one support person at a time in the hospital.
• For most inpatients who do not quality for an essential visitor or support person, a single nonessential visitor is permitted.

Antenatal, Labor & Delivery, Postpartum, Special Care Nursery

At this time, Labor & Delivery, Postpartum and Special Care Nursery are allowing support persons as outlined below:

• Patients in L&D may be accompanied by one (1) support person.
• Patients in Antenatal/Postpartum may be accompanied by one (1) support person.
• Special Care Nursery patients may be seen by two (2) support people at a time.

Inpatients
Effective Tuesday, March 2, most inpatients are permitted one nonessential visitor per day. Patients who are isolated for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not permitted a nonessential visitor. Such patients are only allowed essential visitors when receiving end-of-life care.

Visiting hours for nonessential visitors are held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Nonessential visitors are not permitted in any other areas of the hospital, including our Emergency Department, procedural areas, cafeteria and gift shop.

Perioperative Patients (Main OR, Outpatient Surgery Center, GI, Cardiovascular Center)

One visitor may drop off the patient, wait with them until they are ready to enter the procedural area and pick them up post-procedure.

• No visitors are allowed in the pre-op or PACU areas. 
• Family members/person dropping off patient will receive text updates throughout the procedure and will be notified when the patient is ready for pick-up

Emergency Department/Outpatient Appointments at the Hospital
To allow for physical distancing in areas with space limitations, visitors should not accompany patients to outpatient appointments or the Emergency Department, unless one support person is required. 

Offsite Locations and Practices
Offsite locations and practices should discourage visitors unless a support person is required. Only one support person is allowed. All patients, visitors and support people must be screened for symptoms upon arrival, and must wear a mask at all times.

All approved visitors must be over 18 years of age—and will be encouraged to remain six (6) feet from patients at all times and to wash or sanitize their hands before visiting a patient room.

Screening of Visitors and Patients Continues

We will continue to screen patients and visitors for symptoms and exposure to potential COVID-19 cases at check-in desks in the East Lobby, West Lobby and Cancer Center. Patients may still access the Medical Office Buildings without checking in at the lobby. Please note: If you are coming into the hospital after 6pm, you must enter through the Emergency Department as all other entrances will be closed 6pm-6am.