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LHAAMC Visitor Guidelines

Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center is adjusting visitation beginning Tuesday, April 4th. This guideline change welcomes more care partners and support persons in our pediatric areas. Visiting hours are 9 am through 9 pm for inpatient units. Please see below for visitation in specific areas such as Surgical Services, Labor and Delivery, Mother Baby, Pediatrics, Emergency Department and Outpatient Practices.

In the coming weeks, LHAAMC will implement a new visitor management system at the North and South pavilion desks. All care partners and support persons will be asked to provide a government issued ID. This new system will expedite the check-in process and enhance our hospital security. It replaces handwritten passes with clear and easy-to-read printed passes. Care partners and support persons without IDs will still receive a visitor’s pass and will be permitted to visit their loved ones as we understand how important care partners and support persons are to the patient’s healing.

Starting Monday February 6th, the ICU waiting room will undergo construction for three (3) months. During this time, care partners may be asked to go to the waiting area in the north pavilion lobby if space does not allow for care partners to remain in the ICU.

Caring for and protecting our patients, families, employees, and the community is of the utmost importance. Luminis Health is taking steps to shift to an endemic recovery response to the pandemic. With high vaccination rates and the reduction in community transmission, LH has updated its masking guidance per the updated CDC recommendations. Universal masking is no longer required in any Luminis Health facility. Luminis Health has shifted to optional masking for all staff, patients, and visitors. All care partners and support persons will be required to wash or sanitize their hands throughout their visit.

Patients and visitors who prefer to wear a mask while in our facility may do so. Patients may also request that their care team wear masks.

As a patient- and family-centered organization, we will continue to review and update our visitation guidelines and practices as the situation changes.

Guidelines

Definitions:

Care Partners – Any person(s) who plays a significant role in an individual’s life. This may include family or a person(s) not legally related to the individual. Family members include spouses, domestic partners, and significant others. Care partners may be individuals with a continued legal, genetic and/or emotional relationship as defined by the patient. 

Support Person – For patients with disabilities, support persons provide personal, behavioral and/or communication support not otherwise provided in a hospital setting. A support person may be appropriate for, but is not limited to, patients with intellectual, developmental, physical, or neurocognitive disabilities. A support person may include, but is not limited to a family member, personal care assistant and/or disability service provider.  

While temporary restrictions remain in place, exceptions and guidelines for specific areas are below.

General guidelines apply to care partners and support persons.

  • Clergy of any denomination may visit a patient at any time.
  • Care partners and support persons may eat in patient rooms, but cannot eat in patient care areas or waiting areas. 
  • Care partners and support persons must wash or sanitize hands upon entry to the hospital and entry into and exit from patient rooms.
  • Care partners and support persons of all ages are welcome with two exceptions. Care partners for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 must be 12 y.o. and up in order to wear the appropriate PPE. No children permitted in the Clatanoff Pavilion.
  • Care partners and support persons who serve as a surrogate decision maker, including power of attorney or court-appointed guardianship for a patient, and need to be physically present to engage in the decision making process are permitted at any time. 
  • Hospital guests with an official governmental function may be present at any time.

  • All care partners or support persons are welcome during designated visiting hours. 
  • The care partner or support person will be required to put on personal protective equipment (PPE), provided by the nursing team, which will include a gown, gloves, and a surgical mask. A member of the hospital care team will assist in PPE use.  
  • Visitation is limited to those 12 y.o. and up so they can wear the appropriate PPE.

  • All care partners or support persons may be with the patient 24/7. Care partners or support persons may be asked to wait in an alternative location if space is limited.

  • All care partners or support persons may be with the patient during designated visiting hours.

  • All care partners or support persons are welcome during designated visiting hours.
  • Due to space limitations, no more than two (2) care partners or support persons may be in the room/ICU at a time (four (4) if the patient is at end of life). Other care partners and support persons may wait in either the ICU waiting room or the north pavilion lobby waiting area and switch throughout the visit.

  • Two adult support persons and a registered doula are permitted on Labor and Delivery (L&D), 24/7.
  • The second support person may stay 24/7 until delivery but must adhere to hospital visitation hours after delivery; individuals can alternate being the second support person.
  • One support person may be in the L&D triage room until the patient is admitted and transferred to an L&D room.
  • No children permitted.
  • On L&D and in our triage area, the number of support persons may need to be reduced depending on the clinical circumstances.

  • One support person may be with the patient 24/7 for the duration of the patient’s stay. 
  • A second care partner can be with the patient during designated visiting hours.
    • The second care partner may switch during visiting hours.
  • No children permitted.
  • This is applicable to all patients, including those who have positive COVID-19 results. 

  • One parent and a consistent support person of the parent's choice may be present 24/7 for the duration of the patient's stay (2 persons total). Both will receive wrist bands.
  • Care partners and support persons must be 18 y.o. or older unless they are the parent or guardian. 
  • Parents/Persons with wrist bands may invite a 3rd visitor that can switch out throughout the patient’s stay. Visitation for the 3rd person may not occur during rounds and change of shift.

  • All parents, guardians, care partners, and support persons are welcome and may be with the patient 24/7 during their stay. Applicable to all patients, including those who have positive COVID-19 results.
  • Due to space limitations, no more than four (4) persons may be in the patient’s room at a time. Others may wait in the waiting area and switch throughout the visit.
  • Siblings are welcome.

  • Patients arriving from home and undergoing a scheduled surgery or procedure may have two care partners or support persons present.

  • All care partners and support persons are welcome be with the patient during their appointment. 

  • One care partner can visit the patient between the hours of 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Contact the facility prior to visiting.

  • Family members/Support persons are not permitted at this time.

  • One support person can be present with the patient 24/7 on all units. All other care partners and support persons are welcome during designated visiting hours. Applicable to all patients, including those with positive COVID-19 results. 
  • A patient can designate two people as their official support person. Only one at a time can be present outside of normal visiting hours and that person can switch within the same day.
  • Support persons may be asked to leave the room during certain procedures. 

If the health care team deems the patient is approaching end of life or has experienced a life-threatening event, the care team will contact care partners (as defined by patient).

  • All care partners or support persons may be with the patient 24/7. Depending on space limitations for each unit, some care partners or support persons may be asked to wait in an alternate area and take turns throughout the visit.
  • An adult must be with minors under 18. 

Can my clergy member visit me during my stay at the hospital? 

Clergy of any denomination may visit a patient at any time. 

How can family and friends stay in touch with their loved ones and the health care team?

Hospital staff will reach out to a designated family member, as agreed to by the patient, to communicate about the patient’s condition. In addition, hospital staff will help you in communicating directly with the patient.

How can I be sure that my loved one will be safely cared for during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Employees are trained in the management of infectious disease and Luminis Health is following recommendations of the CDC, Maryland Department of Health and other health care organizations. 

What if my loved one or I need health care for other illnesses or injury?

During this pandemic, our patients still need care for health conditions unrelated to COVID-19, and we will continue to serve and care for the needs of all patients within the constraints of safely managing through the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to providing essential health services and to caring for our community.