Heywood Hospital

Visitor Expectations
Visitation of patients in the hospital is a privilege and we expect every person entering our facilities to uphold our health and safety requirements. Visitors who fail to or refuse to comply with these requirements may be asked to leave.

Face Masks
Patients and Visitors
Masks are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to be worn upon entering and at all times in all locations within any Heywood Healthcare facility. Temporary removal of the mask is permitted for any emergency medical purpose or when exchanging source control mask for personal protective equipment (PPE).

Hand Hygiene
Visitors should sanitize their hands upon entering the facility and every time they enter or leave a patient's room.

General Provisions
Visitors must be 18 years of age or older. Visitors age 17 and under may be permitted to visit under special circumstances and, if permitted, must be accompanied by an adult.

• Visitors should remain in the patient's room for the entire visit.
• Visitors should socially distance in patient rooms.

Food and Drink
Food and drink may not be consumed in public areas, waiting areas, waiting rooms or in the Emergency Department. Face masks are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to be worn.

Food and drink may not be consumed in patient rooms on inpatient units if the patient is on Transmission based Precautions for known or suspected communicable disease.

Food and drink may be consumed in non-precaution patient rooms on inpatient units as follows:

• Food and drink are for personal consumption only. Visitors may not bring in food or drinks for patients without approval of the healthcare team.
• Visitors should be at least 6 feet away from the patient while eating or drinking.

Visitor and Caregiver Policy

The Heywood Healthcare Visitor and Caregiver policy has been updated effective Monday, May 15, 2023

This policy applies to all Heywood Healthcare locations including Athol Hospital, Heywood Hospital, Heywood Medical Group and satellite offices and departments.

The health and safety of our patients, visitors, employees, and our communities remains our top priority. In line with guidance issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, our visitor policies have been updated to reflect the limitations that the COVID-19 pandemic has created. We continue to closely monitor the levels of COVID-19 in our community, assessing and revising this policy as needed in response to pandemic circumstances.

Caregivers

A caregiver is a support person whose presence is required for physical, cognitive, or other support associated with the patient's health care and/or necessary to navigate to the appointment. No minors are permitted as caregivers. Examples of caregivers include support for cognitively impaired or physically challenged patients, transportation assistance for sedated outpatients, and a parent or guardian for patients who are minors.

Visiting hours are 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, 7 days per week.

Birth partners, Attorneys of patients, and Caregivers may be present at any time unless restricted due to safety or health reasons. These individuals are support persons and are not considered a visitor.

Virtual Visits for hospitalized patients

We encourage family members and friends to use their telephone or video calls to stay in touch with their loved ones. For patients who may not have a device or need help connecting, our inpatient staff can facilitate virtual visits for you.

COVID-19 Positive Patients / Patients Under Investigation

No visitors are allowed for COVID-19 positive patients or for those under investigation for COVID-19 infection. Special exceptions may be made at the discretion of the patient care team.

Adult inpatients

• 2 healthy adult visitors at a time.
• Visitors may rotate.
• Visitors 17 and under by exception only.

Pediatric inpatients

• 2 healthy adult visitors at a time.
• Visitors may rotate.
• Parents or guardians may visit outside of normal visiting hours.
• Visitors 17 and under by exception only.

Labor and delivery patients

• 2 healthy adult support persons may stay with the patient during active labor.
• Support persons should remain with the patient and may not rotate out.

Maternity/Postpartum patients

• 2 healthy adults at a time.
• 1 healthy adult support person may stay with the patient overnight before and after birth.
• Siblings aged 2 to 17 years old may visit if they are with an adult.
• Children under the age of 2 years may not visit.

Outpatient appointments

• Adult Patients: 1 healthy adult visitor, support person or caregiver may accompany an adult to an outpatient appointment.
• Pediatric Patients: 2 healthy parents or guardians may accompany a pediatric patient to an outpatient appointment.
• We continue to encourage those who can attend outpatient appointments on their own.
• Visitors 17 and under by exception only.

Perioperative appointments or procedures

• Adult Patients: 1 healthy adult visitor, support person or caregiver may accompany an adult.
• Pediatric Patients: 2 healthy parents or guardians may accompany a pediatric patient.
• We continue to encourage those who can attend outpatient appointments on their own.
• Visitors 17 and under by exception only.
• Visitor, support person or caregiver may be asked to leave once patient has been moved out of the pre-surgical area.
• Visitor, support person or caregiver will be contacted by a member of the care team to return once patient is in the recovery area.

Emergency Department (ED) visitors

• Adult Patients: 1 healthy visitor, support person or caregiver at a time.
• Pediatric Patients: 2 healthy parents or guardians at a time.
• These visitors can rotate.
• Visitors 17 and under by exception only.

Please note: There may be times when our waiting area in the ED becomes too crowded to remain safe. When this occurs, anyone escorting patients may be asked to wait in their car until the patient gets to their room or the ED is less crowded.

The determination of visitor eligibility and the number of allowed visitors will be made by the emergency provider, charge nurse, and primary nurse.

End of Life Care or Comfort Care

Decisions about visitation and number of visitors allowed will be made collaboratively with the patient, the clinical care team, unit leadership, and a patient’s loved ones, as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis.