Visiting Hours and Visitation Policy
Unless noted, two (2) visitors at a time are permitted for all non COVID patients between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. All visitors must be 12 years of age or older, except in rare exceptions as determined by facility. Do not visit if you are sick.
General COVID-19 Visitation Guidelines
- Visiting is not permitted for COVID-19 positive patients, patients under investigation (PUI) and Immunocompromised patients except in limited circumstances with the permission of the care team.
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Visiting is restricted to two visitors at the bedside, at a time, for all non-COVID patients. EXCEPTIONS follow:
- For surgical areas, Pediatric patients may have one parent or guardian.
- Patients with an intellectual, developmental or other cognitive disability may have one support person for the duration of the stay. Designated individual will remain in the patient room the entire length of the visit
- Patients at the end of life may have two visitors at a time, for a time period to be determined by the clinical team. In addition, visiting may be permitted outside stated visiting hours at the discretion of the clinical team.
Required Safety Protocols for Visitors
- All visitors and support persons will be required to adhere to the following safety protocols while at MMC.
- All visitors and support persons must wear a facemask upon entrance and must use for the duration of the visit. If visitor does not have a facemask, one will be provided.
- Visitors will remain in the patient’s room throughout the visit, except when directed by hospital staff to leave for specific procedures. Visiting guidelines will be enforced by all team members.
- Exceptions to the visiting policy may be made on a case-by-case basis
- Security will be responsible for rounding at the conclusion of visiting hours to assure all visitors leave the hospital.
- Mountainside Medical Center may prohibit any visiting, at any time, due to safety or other concerns.
Outpatient visitors/accompaniment:
- One visitor may accompany patients (i.e., Same Day Medical, Same Day Surgery, Radiology). Visitors must meet screening and social distancing requirements.
Emergency Department visitors/accompaniment:
- One person may accompany the patient.
- Due to the nature of the ED, visiting may be amended at the discretion of the hospital team.
Behavioral Health (2B) Unit:
- Visiting is limited to specific timeframes which are communicated to 2B patients and their families.
- Visiting hours may be further adjusted as necessary.
- In accordance with the risk level, one visitor per patient is permitted at a time.
Obstetric Department visitors/accompaniment:
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Two visitors allowed in Labor and Delivery and in Mother/Baby (Postpartum) from 8am – 8pm not to include:
- Banded individual my visit 24/7
- One doula must be the same doula, for duration of birth parent’s stay.
- Two parents or guardians may visit NICU patients 24/7
General Patient Visitation Policy, Purpose and Visitor Restriction Process:
Visitation is an essential element to physical and emotional well-being. Visitation by family, friends and support person is encouraged by Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center when it can be done in a safe manner. This hospital shall not restrict visitation based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or disability of the patient and/or visitor.
Mountainside continues to review visitation status weekly, and depending on prevalence of COVID-19 in the community and hospital conditions, visitation changes may occur.
Effective Saturday, January 1, the hospital is as at red visitation status. This means:
- Inpatient visitation is currently suspended.
- Surgical patients may have one individual drop off the patient to the registration desk. The individual will be contacted by the clinical team when to return to the hospital to pick up at discharge.
- One visitor at a time for hospice/end-of –life patients. Multiple visitors will be coordinated by Guest Services and the clinical team.
- One visitor in Labor and Delivery/ Mother Baby, must be the same person during the patients stay. One doula (must be the same) during the patient's stay
- One parent or guardian for minors
- One visitor or guardian for individuals with special needs. Must be the same person during the patient's stay.
- One visitor at a time for inpatient psychiatry patients, at the request of the clinical team.
Emergency Department:
- Visiting in the Emergency Department is limited to special circumstances, including but not limited to patients at the end of life, those with special needs and pediatric patients.
Visitation Guidelines:
- Visitation to COVID-19 patients is not permitted at this time.
- All visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
- Inpatient visitors must enter through the Main Lobby.
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Visitors will be required to wear a mask, and other PPE as necessary, for the duration of their visit.
- If visitor refuses to wear a mask or requested PPE, they will be asked to leave the facility.
- Visitors must wear facemasks, covering nose and mouth, at all times within the facility.
- Assistance with PPE will be provided as necessary.
- Visitors must undergo symptom and temperature checks upon entering the facility. If they fail the screening, they will not be allowed to enter.
- Visitors must perform hand hygiene before visiting a patient. Sanitizing foam or gel will be available.
- Visitors must remain in the patient’s room as much as possible throughout the visit, except when directed by hospital staff to leave for specific procedures.
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Visitors may not be present during procedures, or in the recovery room, except for:
- Pediatrics
- Childbirth
- Patients with an intellectual, developmental or other cognitive disability
- For same day surgeries, procedures or outpatient visits, patients are allowed one support person to accompany them to the facility.
- The support person may remain with the patient through initial registration process and may rejoin the patient for the discharge process.
- 6 ft. social distancing must be maintained in any common areas such as waiting rooms, lobbies, etc.
- Patients with disabilities such as altered mental status, physical, intellectual or cognitive disability, communication barriers or behavioral concerns, who need assistance from a support person due to the specifics of their disability will be permitted to have such an individual with them. Support persons will be required to comply with safety measures as directed by the facility.
- Please note, our cafeteria is currently closed to visitors due to social distancing requirements. Vending machines are available on many floors.
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Visitors with these symptoms may have COVID-19 and should stay home to protect the safety of our patients and team members. You will not be allowed to enter the facility.
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Please contact the Office of Patient Experience at 973-429-6298 if you have additional needs for extended visitation. These requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Visitors will not be tested for COVID-19. Visitors will also need to provide their contact information in the event that tracing becomes necessary.
Phone and video calls to patients are welcome and encouraged.
To reduce the number of people in waiting areas and our hospital:
- Phone and video calls to inpatients are welcome and encouraged.
- Partners in care and family members are welcome to drop off and pick up patients for surgical and ambulatory services.
- Partners in care and family will be contacted via phone by the patient’s care team.
Visitors shall not be restricted, limited or otherwise denied on the basis of: sex/gender, race, age, religion, ethnicity, disability, diagnosis, creed, color, national origin, nationality, marital status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military service, ability to pay or source of payment, in sum or substance, any other category protected by state or federal law.
Mountainside continues to review visitation status weekly, and depending on prevalence of COVID-19 in the community and hospital conditions, visitation changes may occur.
Important information about about visitation (Effective 8/17/22):
Emergency Department:
Visitation Guidelines:
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Visitors with these symptoms may have COVID-19 and should stay home to protect the safety of our patients and team members. You will not be allowed to enter the facility.
Please contact the Office of Patient Experience at 973-429-6298 if you have additional needs for extended visitation. These requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Visitors will not be tested for COVID-19. Visitors will also need to provide their contact information in the event that tracing becomes necessary.
Phone and video calls to patients are welcome and encouraged.
To reduce the number of people in waiting areas and our hospital:
Visitors shall not be restricted, limited or otherwise denied on the basis of: sex/gender, race, age, religion, ethnicity, disability, diagnosis, creed, color, national origin, nationality, marital status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military service, ability to pay or source of payment, in sum or substance, any other category protected by state or federal law.
Hackensack Meridian
Mountainside Medical Center
One Bay Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
Call us: (973) 429-6000