Visitation Guidelines/Hours

We ask that family members and visitors be supportive, considerate and respectful of the healing process and recovery of the patient. Please follow these visitation hours to protect our patients' privacy, comfort and safety which are necessary to help in their healing process and recovery.

  • Visiting hours are recommended from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. but may vary depending on the unit and condition of the patient. All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children under age 10 may visit with special permission only.
    Please follow these guidelines below that may require visitor limitations or restrictions to ensure a healthy, safe and secure environment for all patients.
  • Access to visitors may be limited or restricted based on the patient clinical and personal needs and/or patient wishes, such as:
    • Patient's need for privacy or rest.
    • Need for privacy or rest by another individual in the patient's shared room.
    • When the patient is undergoing care interventions.
  • Reasonable limitations on the number of visitors at any one time. We encourage just two visitors in addition to the patient-designated support person – however timeframes may be limited based on the patient's condition.
  • Any awareness of an existing court order restricting contact.
  • Visitors engaged in disruptive, threatening or violent behavior.
  • Visitors will be asked to comply with the hospital's infection control policies and isolation practices, including hand hygiene and barrier precautions required such as masks, gloves or gowns.
  • Visitors with fever, cold, sore throats or any contagious diseases should not visit patients.

Birthing Center: Spouses/significant others have unlimited visitation including overnight accommodations. Siblings and grandparents may visit anytime from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. General visitation hours for OB/Maternity are 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Children under 10 years of age, who are not siblings, will not be permitted to visit. All visitors must be free of illness.

Pediatrics: Same as general hospital guidelines. Children under 10 years of age, who are not siblings, will not be permitted to visit. Sibling visitation must be arranged with permission of the patient's nurse. Siblings may not stay overnight. One parent or parent substitute should remain with the child.

Intensive Care/Progressive Care: Visiting hours in this unit are designed to provide the patient with essential rest and care needed for recovery. Visiting hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. These times may be adjusted depending on your loved one's needs. We ask that no visitors be permitted during "report" time (6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) and a "quiet time" be observed from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We prefer that no more than two visitors be in the room at a time. In order to ensure the privacy of all the patients in this unit, we ask that all visitors use the phone located by the doorway in the waiting room to ask permission to visit. You will be informed if the time is appropriate for you to enter. No food, live plants, or cut flowers are permitted in the patient rooms. Silk arrangements and Mylar balloons are acceptable as space and condition permits.

Condition Reports: One designated person may call in once each shift 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., to get a general report of the patient's condition. Please let the lead nurse know who will be calling in.

Cell Phone Use: Cell phone usage is restricted to waiting areas and hallways. The use of camera features is prohibited.

Visitor Meals: The cafeteria is open to visitors for breakfast from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and supper from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Visitor trays are available to be delivered to the patient floor if they are ordered at least one half hour before each meal – 7:30 a.m. (Breakfast); 11:45 a.m. (Lunch); and 4:45 p.m. (Supper). Visitors must pay for their meal tray in the cafeteria. Please let the floor nurse know that you are expecting the visitor tray. Snacks and beverages may be obtained in the canteen 24 hours a day.

Overnight Stays: Overnight stays are only permitted for parents with pediatric patients and in some cases with other critically ill patients with special permission of the nurse or physician. Space for overnight accommodations is limited since there are only a few hide-away beds or recliner chairs. A robe or other appropriate attire should be worn by overnight visitors at all times.

Grand Lake Health System
200 St. Clair Street, St. Marys,
Ohio 45885-2400
| 1-419-394-3335 | 1-877-564-6897