Visitor Policy

Update July 19, 2021:

All inpatients may now identify up to 4 Care Partners of which two can visit the hospital daily at SEPARATE times to make sure there is enough room for physical distancing. Care Partners should work with each other and the patient to make sure they come at different times because if there are two people, the care team will have to ask one person to leave. A Care Partner is someone who provides physical, emotional, or other supports to patients. Ask your care team for details.

Despite the positive developments in the rates of COVID transmission, LHSC is still following public health direction on social distancing. For this reason, we are not yet able to permit a care partner to accompany patients to every outpatient/clinic appointment. The volumes of outpatient activity, and the limited waiting space make it impossible to change this element of our policy at the current time. When the care team believes it is appropriate and necessary, they will make an exception for some patients coming to a clinic appointment.

University Hospital and Victoria Hospital

For Out-Patient accompaniment, clinical staff will determine when care partners are essential based on: (a) need for patient safety (e.g. patients who are experiencing a mental health crisis that the care team believes could be supported by having an essential care partner present), (b) need to enable patient care (e.g. patients with development or intellectual disability that requires support), or (c) compassionate reasons (e.g. when disclosing life changing diagnosis/prognosis)

Units experiencing a local outbreak of COVID-19 may further limit visitation. Speak with your care team for more details.

Category	Policy
Outpatient	No accompaniment to out-patient appointments is permitted at this time unless the Physician determines it is essential
Emergency Department	No accompaniment unless the clinical team determines it is essential
Inpatient	Patients may identify up to four designated care partners who will be eligible to visit. Two visits at different times are permitted per day (NOT at the same time). Care Partners should coordinate among themselves to avoid multiple attempted visits on a given day. Care partner presence is generally limited to 3 hours per day excluding palliative care, women’s care, or at discretion of local leaders.
Obstetrics	Patients who present to the OB Triage will be allowed to have one designated care partner accompany them for their assessment and throughout their stay if they proceed with labor and delivery. This person is to be the person who will stay with them for the duration of their stay. There will no in and out switching privileges.
Palliative	Patients who are imminently dying may have two care partners visiting at a time. More than two care partners can be identified but must rotate out so no more than two are in hospital at a time. Note: the number of care partners at the bedside may be limited by local leadership.

When permitted, patients (or their substitute decision-makers if they are incapable), will identify designated care partners. The team will communicate directly with the patient and care partners regarding how to set up visits.

Children’s Hospital

Category	Policy
Children's Outpatient	One designated care partner may accompany the child to each appointment.
Children's Inpatient	Up to four care partners may be identified as eligible to visit. Only two of the designated care partners can be in the hospital on any day.
Children's Other	Physicians and Leaders may approve of exceptions if deemed appropriate (e.g. in circumstances where a child is critically ill)