the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, If you or a loved one are preparing for an inpatient stay or an outpatient procedure at The Valley Hospital, we ask that you review the updated visitor guidelines on this page. These guidelines are part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe care environment for patients, guests and staff.
General Guidelines
Visiting hours for medical/surgical and critical care patients are noon – 8 p.m.
All visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
All visitors will have their temperature taken and be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival. Delays in proceeding to your destination may occur as we thoroughly screen each individual entering the hospital. Please plan accordingly. We appreciate your patience as we take these protective measures.
All visitors must wear masks. If you don’t have a mask, one will be provided to you.
No visiting is allowed for COVID-positive patients or suspected COVID patients, except for end-of-life patients.
Visitors who are currently under self-quarantine orders will not be allowed to visit.
Visitors will be asked to stay in the patient’s room for the duration of their visit.
Visitors are asked to refrain from eating while in the hospital, as it would require them to remove their mask.
Inpatient Visiting Guidelines
Medical/Surgical/Critical Care, Non-COVID Units:
Each patient will be allowed to select only (1) support person to visit them during their entire hospital stay, during regular visiting hours of noon – 8 p.m.
For patients in semi-private rooms: Only one (1) visitor will be allowed in the room at a time. Visitors are asked to follow an alternating schedule: Patients in window-side beds may be visited on the even hours, and patients in door-side beds may be visited on the odd hours. No one may wait on site for more than 15 minutes for their turn to visit.
Clergy will be allowed to visit a patient upon the patient’s request.
Patients who are on hospice or at the end of life may have four (4) visitors. Visiting hours are unrestricted for these patients.
Every patient admitted to the hospital via our Emergency Department is tested for COVID-19. These patients will not be permitted to have visitors until their test is confirmed to be negative. Limited exceptions will be made for patients at the end of life, pediatric patients, and maternity patients admitted through Valley’s Emergency Department.
Women and Children’s Areas:
Pediatrics: Both parents may visit. One (1) parent is allowed to stay 24/7, and one (1) parent is allowed to come and go, with re-screening upon re-entry. No siblings, children, or grandparents are allowed to visit at this time.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Both parents have unlimited visiting while mother is an inpatient.
After mother is discharged: One (1) parent may stay at the bedside at one time. Two visits are allowed per day, but parents can alternate.
Maternity/Labor and Delivery: Mother may have one (1) support person, designated with a hospital-issued wristband, who will be allowed to leave the unit and come back with re-screening upon re-entry. The support person will be asked to minimize travel to and from the unit.
Valley Hospital contracted doulas, as well as private doulas, will be able to stay with the patient during labor.
Patients (mothers) who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cannot have any visitors, or a doula, until/unless their status has changed.
An antepartum patient on the Mother/Baby Unit with a length of stay of two weeks or greater will be allowed one (1) additional support person to visit. Antepartum patients on the Labor & Delivery Unit will not be eligible for an additional support person.
Outpatient Visiting Guidelines
Patients with disabilities due to altered mental status, intellectual or cognitive disability, communication barriers, or behavioral concerns, can have one (1) designated support person visit. A designated support person can be:
A family member
A personal care assistant
Another disability service provider knowledgeable about the patient’s care
A person who lives out of the area and accompanies a patient for a test or procedure can wait in a designated waiting area.
Both parents/guardians are allowed to accompany pediatric patients.
Emergency Department: For the safety of our patients and staff, Emergency Department visitors will be restricted when the department reaches capacity, with exceptions for:
Patients in our Pediatric ED (both parents/guardians are allowed to stay)
Patients near end of life
All ED visitors will be required to answer COVID-19 screening questions, undergo temperature screening, wear a mask for the duration of their visit, and remain in the patient’s room at all times.
Parents/guardians of Pediatric ED patients will be allowed to accompany the patient if they are admitted to the hospital.
Outpatient/Procedural Areas
Main Hospital Campus Procedural Areas (Surgery, Cardiac, Interventional Radiology, Endoscopy, Ambulatory Care and Same Day Surgery/Procedure); Luckow Same Day Services and Pain Management
No visitors are allowed, except:
Both parents may accompany a pediatric patient
Patients requiring assistance due to disability, altered mental status or intellectual or cognitive disability may be accompanied by one (1) support person
Process:
Upon arrival at the lobby, the patient will be temperature screened. Patients must wear a mask while at The Valley Hospital and the Luckow Pavilion.
The patient will be directed to the Patient Access Center (PAC) for check-in/registration, and a patient ambassador will escort the patient to the procedure area. Contact information for a family member/responsible party will be obtained and communicated by the ambassador.
At the time of discharge, the patient will be brought to the lobby entrance of the building to meet the person driving them home.
Luckow – Oncology
For the safety of our patients, visitation is restricted.
One (1) visitor is permitted under the following circumstances:
When the patient is cognitively impaired
When the patient is undergoing their first chemotherapy infusion
When the patient has a first oncology appointment/new patient for a cancer diagnosis
Process:
Upon arrival at the Luckow lobby, the patient and visitor will be temperature screened. Patients and visitors must wear a mask while at the Luckow Pavilion.
The patient and visitor will be directed to the second floor for check-in/registration, and the visitor may accompany the patient to their appointment.
Diagnostic Imaging and Cardiac Outpatient Testing, All Locations
Patients are only allowed one (1) visitor under the following circumstances:
The patient is cognitively impaired
The patient is physically disabled and requires a visitor to help them navigate the facilityBoth parents/guardians may accompany a pediatric patient.
Process: When a visitor is present, the following restrictions are in place:
Visitors may not be present during the procedure or in the recovery room.
For lengthy procedures, visitors must leave the facility and may return upon discharge.
It’s amazing people think it’s a party when someone is getting treatment at the site. Do yourself a favor and everyone else stay the hell out of there.