Patient and Visitor Information: MedStar St. Mary's Hospital

MedStar Health is committed to providing high-quality care to our patients and communities in a safe and respectful environment that supports health and healing. To ensure our hospitals and care locations are safe, caring, and inclusive, we ask that our patients and visitors adhere to our Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct detailed here.

If our Code of Conduct guidelines are not followed, patients may be asked to leave and make other plans for their non-emergency care. Visitors may be asked to leave and could be restricted from future visitation.

Every day, our providers, nurses, and associates are committed to providing the highest levels of care to our patients. Please show them the respect they deserve and that you expect as a patient or visitor. Thank you for joining us in our commitment to ensuring a safe, caring, and inclusive environment for us all.

MedStar St. Mary's Hospital has a strong commitment to customer service. It is our philosophy that visitation of family and friends be as unrestrictive as possible. On a case-by-case basis, limitations may need to be made due to the clinical condition of the patient or at a patient's request. Since we believe visitors play a vital role in supporting loved ones and friends, we'll do our best to make you feel welcome and comfortable during your time with us.

Our main entrance is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Please bring a photo ID with you and plan for a few minutes of time to check in and receive a patient or visitor ID badge or wristband.

Face masks are optional for patients and visitors who are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or other viruses (cough, runny nose, sneezing, etc). However, masks may be required in certain areas/rooms in the hospital.

A medical provider or patient may request that masks be worn in a patient’s room or treatment area. These requests should be respected and honored.

Face masks are available onsite for patients and visitors.

As part of our vision to be the trusted leader in caring for people and advancing health, all MedStar Health facilities are tobacco-free. Smoking and the use of any tobacco products in or around our facilities is strictly prohibited. We appreciate your consideration and cooperation.

• One visitor at a time per patient.

• Exceptions to visitors outside this timeframe are authorized by the nurse supervisor or the care team.

• Visitors for patients with confirmed COVID-19 or PUI’s will be limited to compassionate care and must be restricted to the patient’s room or other designated facility areas.

• Visitors must don Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided by hospital staff, including procedure mask, isolation gown, goggles or face shield (eye protection), and gloves; and must not be ill or show symptoms of illness.

Visitors in the Emergency Department are permissible at the discretion of the nurse and/or physician caring for the patient. As a rule, the number of visitors will be restricted to two. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visitors may need to leave under certain conditions as determined by the physician. The Emergency Department entrance is open 24 hours a day.

Please feel free to use the visitor's lounge located outside the Intensive Care Center. When you are ready to visit, please pick up the phone in the waiting area; the nurse will respond as quickly as possible to tell you when you may visit. Visitation may be altered or reduced at the nurse or doctor's discretion. Visitors may not be present during a Code Blue unless deemed appropriate by the physician in charge of the code. Visiting children must be attended by an adult, other than the patient. Children may not be left unattended with patients and must be without a fever.

A family member or significant other is welcome to stay overnight with loved ones. It is requested that only one guest remain overnight in the patient room. A sofa bed is available in most patient care areas for this purpose. When additional guests desire to stay overnight, alternative accommodations will be suggested on a case-by-case basis. However, MedStar St. Mary's Hospital is not obligated to accommodate an overnight stay.

Visiting hours on the Behavioral Health unit are 6 to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on weekends and holidays. You are welcome to have visitors during your hospitalization. All visitors must sign in and out at the nurses’ station. Former patients may not return to visit for a period of 30 days after discharge. Visitors of all ages are allowed. For more information, call Behavioral Health at 301-475-6227.

The Women’s Health and Family Birthing Center at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital adheres to the following visitation guidelines for the safety and comfort of all our patients and visitors. Our guidelines include:

• 24-hour visiting hours for labor patients

• Postpartum visiting hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• All visitors must be free of signs of active illness (i.e., fever, cough, vomiting)

• Visitors must be over age 5 unless they are siblings of the newborn

• All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The responsible adult cannot be the patient herself

• Patients may have unlimited visitors; however, they must rotate out for a maximum of four visitors in the room at one time

• The support person with the second matching newborn ID band and siblings to the newborn do not count as visitors

• Patients may have their support person stay with them overnight, but he or she must be over age 18, unless it is the newborn’s father

• The overnight support person is asked to be properly clothed at all times and not to sleep in the patient’s bed. A convertible sofa is provided, but a twin-size inflatable mattress may be brought in and used by those who need special sleeping accommodations. The inflatable mattress cannot be laid directly next to the patient bed for safety purposes. Linens and pillows will be provided to the overnight support person, if available

• Meals and snacks are provided to the patient and support person

• Visitors may be asked to leave the patient’s room promptly if the mother’s condition warrants

• To ensure the safety and confidentiality of our patients, visitors should not congregate in the hallways or nursing stations. A visitor lounge is provided outside our locked double doors for those times that visitors cannot be at the patient’s bedside

• A “Lullaby Time” is offered daily from 2 to 4 p.m. to all new mothers. Visitors and phone calls will be held during this time. Essential nursing care will continue

• Three observers (including the father of the baby) may attend a stable mother’s delivery. Crowd control during the delivery process ensures everyone’s safety

• Visitor rotation may resume after the delivery once the recovery process is complete and both mother and newborn are stable

• A mother desiring her minor child(ren) to attend the delivery must notify her midwife, physician, or nurse of her wishes prior to the active phase of labor. He/she must be accompanied by an adult who is prepared to immediately leave the room with the child if the mother’s condition becomes unstable or the child becomes fearful. Any children observing the delivery count in the total number of observers

• Photography is allowed during the delivery, but with specific guidelines. Videography is prohibited. Please speak with your nurse/ midwife/physician about these, along with our social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) restrictions regarding posting and “tagging” photographs/videos that feature our healthcare team members

• During times of public health crisis, such as an influenza pandemic, additional restrictions may apply in order to protect the health of the mother and the newborn

• Exceptions to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis when there are extenuating circumstances

• Patients may have two (2) visitors.

• Patients with disabilities may be accompanied by a support person who is not considered a visitor and is welcome at any time.

• Visitors under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult visitor (not the patient) at all times.

 

• Outpatients may have two (2) visitors accompany them to their appointment.

• There is no age restriction for visitors to outpatient areas; however, children 12 years of age and under must be supervised by an adult visitor (not the patient) at all times.

• Patients with disabilities (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act) may have one support person accompany them in pre-operative areas, phase I and phase II areas. The support person does not count as a visitor.

• Two visitors per patient are permitted in designated waiting rooms.

• A visitor should be the patient’s responsible person (the person who will escort the patient upon discharge and/or assist in their care at home).

• For patients less than 18 years of age:

  • Two parents/guardians are permitted in pre-operative areas.

  • Please consider alternative arrangements for siblings if your child is scheduled for surgery. Children may not be left unattended. They may enter patient care areas only if they are healthy at the time of the visit.

• In pre-operative areas, two visitors are allowed, in addition to a designated support person for patients with disabilities.

• In phase I areas, no visitors are allowed except for a designated support person for patients with disabilities.

• In phase II areas, two visitors and a support person may be permitted for the purpose of receiving discharge instructions or to assist the health care team in care delivery.