Being with your loved ones while they are in the hospital is important to their healing and overall wellbeing, and we are happy to welcome you to Missouri Baptist Medical Center.
The following safety guidelines remain in place in our hospital setting. Please continue to adhere to this guidance out of respect for everyone’s health and safety.
Visitor Safety Guidelines
Based on sustained reduced incidence of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory illness hospitalizations and community transmission, BJC HealthCare is lifting universal masking requirements in our health care environments effective March 22, 2023. Masks will continue to be readily available for those who prefer to continue wearing a mask, and patients who would prefer their providers wear a mask may request that. Masking in health care facilities helped protect patients, visitors, employees and the community throughout the pandemic and during recent severe respiratory viral illness surges.
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Masking remains required when visiting patients who are positive or suspected positive for COVID-19.
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To reduce transmission, masking is recommended for those who are showing signs or symptoms of respiratory illness and those with a recent known exposure to someone with a respiratory illness.
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Those who prefer to wear masks in BJC facilities are welcome to do so. Respiratory hygiene stations will remain at all facilities.
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BJC may reinstate a broad masking requirement in our health care facilities during surges of respiratory viruses such as influenza. BJC infection prevention and infectious diseases specialists will continue to track case rates in the community and among staff, along with hospitalization rates, to evaluate whether and when masking may need to be reinstated to protect patients, visitors and employees.
- Please sanitize your hands upon entering the facility and throughout your visit and practice physical distancing when possible. Chairs in our waiting rooms and tables in our cafeterias have been arranged to comply with spacing recommendations.
- If planning to visit a patient and have COVID-19 symptoms (including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell, and muscle or body aches), please stay at home.
- If you have tested positive for COVID-19, exhibit signs or symptoms, or you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, please refrain from visiting.
- Rude, inappropriate, or disruptive behavior is not tolerated and visiting privileges will be limited.
- If you are visiting a COVID-19 positive patient, please review the section below.
Patient Visiting Hours
Daily from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Parking
Parking is available throughout the campus.
COVID-19 Positive Patients Visitor Policy
- Limited to 2 visitors per day, visitors may change from day to day.
- In addition to masks, COVID-19 patient visitors must wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) – including gowns, gloves, and eye protection while in the patient’s room. This PPE and instruction on its use will be provided by the care team when the visitor checks in at the nurse’s station before proceeding to the patient’s room.
- Children under the age of 18 may visit COVID-19 patients, as one of the two allowed visitors, if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Visitors must leave the room during nasopharyngeal (NP) specimen collection or aerosol-generating procedures, or heated high-flow nasal oxygen (HHFNO) treatment
- Visitors must notify the care team upon arrival to and departure from the unit.
Inpatient
- Each patient is allowed up to 2 visitors at a time in the room. Children under 5 are discouraged from visiting. All visitors under 12 must be supervised by an adult (aged 18+) at all times. *Compassionate exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.
ICU
- Each patient is allowed up to 2 visitors at a time in the room. 1 family member is allowed between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.; however, sleeping at the bedside is not permitted. Children under 5 are discouraged from visiting. All visitors under 12 must be supervised by an adult (aged 18+) at all times. *Compassionate exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.
Labor & Delivery, Post-Partum, Women & Infants
- Visitors (including siblings) are permitted in the labor and delivery room during labor, recovery, and post-partum. Non-sibling children under the age of 12 are not permitted at this time. Children visitors must be supervised at all times by an adult (aged 18+) who is not the patient.
- Those with permission to hold or touch the baby, should wash their hands first.
- If the patient is delivering after hours, visitors may stay in the Labor and Delivery waiting area during the birth. Once the new mother is ready to be moved to post-partum, 1 designated visitor (the significant other or baby’s grandparent) is able stay overnight in the room. All other visitors should return the following day during regular visiting hours.
- Please refrain from inviting a large number of visitors to the labor and delivery waiting room. Due to COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions, the space allows for a limited number of chairs and people.
NICU
- Please use the hand sanitizer when entering the NICU.
- All visitors must be approved by a parent and should be added to the patient’s visitor list in advance of the first visit. Non-sibling children under the age of 12 are not permitted. Siblings may visit when accompanied by a parent.
- Parents are welcome to visit at any time but encouraged to limit visitation during the hours of 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. to protect all patients’ privacy.
- For your baby's safety, anyone who has been exposed to a contagious illness, received a live vaccine, such as nasal flu mist, or has cold and flu like symptoms will not be able to visit for one week.
- Parents and or other visitors should discuss any current or recent contagious illness with the healthcare team.
- To ensure privacy and confidentiality, we cannot allow visitors to browse the NICU or visit any other baby. No information can be given regarding other patients. This includes gestational age, weight, or condition of the infant.
- There may be times throughout the year (i.e. flu season) when visiting may be limited.
- There may be times when a visitor may be asked to step out of the unit for a few minutes to protect another baby's privacy.
- Holding infants (for visitors) is based on medical condition and parent’s discretion.
Pediatric Inpatients
- One adult overnight caregiver may sleep at the bedside.
- For your child's safety, anyone who has been exposed to a contagious illness, received a live vaccine, such as nasal flu mist, or has cold and flu like symptoms will not be able to visit for one week. Parents and or other visitors should discuss any current or recent contagious illness with the healthcare team.
- Non-sibling children under the age of 12 are not allowed. In situations where the children may be deemed beneficial to the patient’s well-being. Any child that is allowed to visit (sibling or non-sibling) must be accompanied by a responsible adult over the age of 18 who maintains constant supervision of the child. Children who visit may not be left alone with the patient.
Virtual Visits
Visiting virtually through phone calls, FaceTime, or other virtual methods are an option for those who chose not to visit in person. If you are interested in a virtual visit, but unable to coordinate on your own, our care team can help facilitate through the BJC Virtual Visitor Program.