Visiting Hours

Updated Visitor Guidelines

Beth Israel Lahey Health has taken a number of steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in order to keep our patients and staff safe. Additional information on COVID-19 can be found here.

Effective Thursday, December 22, we are allowing one visitor or Designated Support Person at a time, with up to two visitors per day, between the hours of 11:00 am and 8:00 pm.

Visitors must remain in the room with the patient unless otherwise instructed by staff. While in the room, visitors may not eat or drink.

Children under the age of 6 may not visit unless they are visiting a hospitalized parent or sibling. (High-risk, unit-specific age restrictions may also exist.)

If a visitor reports or exhibits symptoms of respiratory illness, including COVID-19 and influenza, you cannot visit until you are well.

Visitor Policy

All visitors, essential escorts and support persons must wear a BILH-provided surgical mask, fully covering the nose and mouth, at all times while in the hospital regardless of vaccination status.

Effective Thursday, December 22, 2022

Inpatients

  • All patients may have two visitors or one visitor and one Designated Support Person at a time, with a maximum of two visitors per day, one at a time. 
  • Care teams may consider exceptions for special circumstances and on a case-by-case basis.

Emergency Department

  • Two visitors or one visitor and one designated Support Person per ED visit.
  • No restrictions on visiting hours/time of day.

Obstetric Units (Labor and Delivery, Antepartum, Postpartum)

  • Labor & Delivery Units may have two (2) continuous support people during labor and childbirth. Labor support person must be over 12 years of age.
    • One labor support person may remain with the patient as the patient transitions to the postpartum unit.
    • A second person (visitor) may accompany the patient from L&D to the postpartum unit only during established visitor hours (11:00 am to 8:00 pm).
    • If a patient requires care in the operating room, a maximum of one (1) support person may be able to accompany the patient, depending on clinical circumstances.
    • No additional visitors are allowed.
  • Mother Baby Unit
    • One support person only may stay overnight when space permits.
    • Two visitors in addition to the Designated Support Person are allowed between the hours of 11:00 am and 8:00 pm.

Pediatrics

  • A maximum of two people are allowed at the pedi bedside at any time, one of which must be a parent or legal guardian.

Ambulatory and Procedural Areas

  • Two visitors or one visitor and one designated support person escort