News

Great River Women and Family Center Changes Visiting Policy

January 25, 2010 –

Great River Medical Center's Women and Family Center has changed its visiting policy for the Obstetrics and Pediatrics units. The changes were made to support infection-control and patient-safety recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and the Iowa Department of Public Health.

The visiting policy changes for the two units are:

Obstetrics Unit

• Visiting hours are unrestricted for fathers, spouses, or partners and grandparents. No other visitors will be allowed.
• The newborn's healthy siblings may visit during normal visiting hours. "Healthy" means the sibling has not had a fever or chills, a cough or sore throat, a runny nose, body aches, headaches, tiredness, diarrhea or vomiting for at least 48 hours. Siblings cannot stay overnight with the mother.
• Visitors are restricted to two people during labor.
• Only one visitor may stay with a patient in the Early Labor Lounge for privacy protection.

Pediatrics Unit

• Visiting is unrestricted for parents, guardians and foster parents, and for grandparents with patient permission.
• The patient's healthy siblings may visit during normal visiting hours. No other children 14 and under may visit patients.
• Only parents or grandparents may visit if the patient is in isolation. Siblings will not be allowed to visit.
• Minor visitors or siblings may not stay overnight.