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Visitor Policy
Stanford Health Care takes seriously the safety of our patients and staff as well as the emotional well-being of patients through their illness and recovery. Visitation at Stanford Health Care facilities is dependent on the care environment. See below for details.
Stanford Health Care – ValleyCare maintains an independent visitor policy. For the latest information, visit the Stanford Health Care – ValleyCare website.
Inpatient visitation guidelines:
- Patients or family/patient representatives are asked to designate two (2) visitors for the duration of the patient’s stay and provide the name, address, and phone number of each.
- Patients are permitted one (1) visitor at a time.
- Visiting sessions are limited to no more than two (2) in a 24-hour period.
- Children under 16 years of age are permitted to visit a parent or legal guardian if accompanied by an adult (total of two visitors).
- Visitation may be delayed or refused depending on care needs of the patient.
- Prior to entering facilities, visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Cleared visitors will be given a visitor sticker and mask to wear for the duration of the visit. Visitors will be provided wayfinding assistance to the patient’s room.
- Visitors who do not pass the screening process will not be permitted entry to the facility.
- Visitors must remain in the patient room. Visitors are not permitted to use any common spaces, including the cafeteria and lounges. Visitors are required to comply with all safety protocols, including hand hygiene, masking, and physical distancing.
- Visitors may not stay overnight. Exceptions will be determined by a patient’s care team.
- For COVID-19 positive patients, visitors are only permitted at the end of life.
Exception to visiting rules:
- Parents or legal guardians of a minor are permitted to remain at the bedside and allowed a maximum of two exit and re-entry opportunities per 24-hour period.
- Patients at end of life are permitted up to five (5) visitors.
- Visitors are allowed outside regular visiting hours to participate in discharge education, following significant changes in plans of care, and in the event of significant new diagnoses.
- Visitor guidance for any situation not covered here will be made by the patient’s care team.
Emergency department (adult & pediatric) visitation guidelines:
- Patients are permitted one (1) visitor for the duration of their visit. If the patient is under 18 years of age, the visitor should be a parent or legal guardian.
- Prior to entering facilities, visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Cleared visitors will be given a visitor sticker and mask to wear for the duration of the visit.
- Visitors who do not pass the screening process will not be permitted entry to the facility.
- Visitors must remain in the patient room. Visitors are required to comply with all safety protocols, including hand hygiene, masking, and physical distancing.
- If the patient is suspected or known to have COVID-19, the use of technology will be considered prior to offering in-person visitation.
- Visitation may be delayed or refused depending on care needs of the patient.
- Children under 16 years of age are not permitted as visitors.
Exception to visiting rules:
- For patients under 18 years of age, if the parent/guardian must leave the emergency department, another parent/guardian may swap in once within a 24-hour period.
- Patients at end of life are permitted up to three (3) visitors.
- Visitor guidance for any situation not covered here will be made by the patient’s care team.
- Patients are permitted one (1) visitor to accompany them in following situations:
- The patient is a minor under 18 years of age.
- The patient is at the end of life.
- The patient requires a caregiver as essential to their care.
- Prior to entering facilities, visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Cleared visitors will be given a visitor sticker and mask to wear for the duration of the visit.
- Visitors who do not pass the screening process will not be permitted entry to the facility.
- Visitors may be asked to wait outside if the waiting space cannot accommodate the number of people in the area and maintain physical distancing.
- Visitation may be delayed or refused depending on care needs of the patient.
Procedures visitation guidelines:
- Patients are permitted one (1) visitor to accompany them in following situations:
- The patient is a minor under 18 years of age.
- The patient is at the end of life.
- The patient requires a caregiver as essential to their care.
- Prior to entering facilities, visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Cleared visitors will be given a visitor sticker and mask to wear while inside the facility.
- Visitors who do not pass the screening process will not be permitted entry to the facility.
- Visitors must wait off site while the patient is having their procedure or surgery until contacted by the patient’s care team.
Thank you for your understanding and compliance with these guidelines.
Revised on 07/02/2020