Kettering Health Network News

Effective Wednesday, February 17 at 8 a.m., current patients and patients coming for an emergency department visit, hospitalization, outpatient procedure, or office visit will be permitted one (1) visitor at a time. This is a change from the previous visitor policy of one visitor per stay.

Inpatient rehab will allow one visitor at a time between 1-6 p.m.

No visitation will be permitted for outpatient physical, occupational, or speech therapy. 

No visitation will be permitted for outpatient testing, such as non-invasive radiology testing, routine x-rays, and lab studies.

No visitation will be allowed by anyone under the age of 18 unless they are the parent or legal guardian of a pediatric patient.

Inpatient visitation for patients suspected to have or diagnosed with COVID-19

Those who are suspected to have COVID-19 or inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 may identify one visitor to support them for the duration of their hospital stay. They may also have a representative designate a visitor on their behalf. 

Visitation is limited to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Visits must be scheduled and coordinated with hospital leadership.

What to expect as a visitor of a patient suspected to have or diagnosed with COVID-19: 

• You must follow all visitor instructions. 
• You must pass the facility's entry screening process. 
• Check in at the nurses' station on the unit and notify staff of arrival prior to entering patient room
• Before entering the patient room, you will be required to put on personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by the nursing team, which includes a gown, gloves, and isolation mask. A face shield or goggles should also be worn. 
• When entering an isolation room or area, a member of the hospital care team will help you with PPE.
• When exiting an isolation room or area, a member of the hospital care team will help you safely remove your PPE.
• At the end of the visit, you will leave the hospital directly. 

The following exceptions apply to our visitor policy:

• End-of-life situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis. 
• For minor maternity patients, a parent or guardian will also be permitted in addition to the one visitor.
• Minor patients (under 18 years of age) may have two (2) visitors in the emergency department and inpatient setting, but this is limited to only parents or guardians.
• Minor surgical patients (under 18 years of age) may have two (2) visitors in the surgical waiting and recovery area, but this is limited to only parents or guardians. 
• NICU and Special Care Nursery patients will be allowed two (2) visitors for the duration of the patient's stay. Both visitors may come daily. Confirmed COVID-19 mothers and partners should not visit NICU infants while able to transmit COVID-19.
• Patients who require assistance due to mobility, reorienting/confusion (patient safety), interpretation, court orders, or health care decision-making may have one (1) additional assistance person.