Important Information About Visitation Guidelines

at Clara Maass Medical Center

Effective February 16, 2026

Masking

In response to key viral benchmarks across RWJBarnabas Health and the region, RWJBarnabas Health has updated its masking protocols across all locations in the system.

Please see the RWJBarnabas Health visitation page for the latest masking guidelines.

Visiting Hours

Standard Visiting Hours

All RWJBarnabas Health adult acute-care hospitals hold visiting hours from8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.

We recognize the vital role that families and loved ones play in supporting a patient’s care and well-being. When medically appropriate, exceptions to standard visiting hours such as end-of-life care, visitors of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), parents/guardians of pediatric patients, disabled patients with caregivers, and the care partner program can be granted to accommodate unique patient and caregiver needs.

Patients and families are encouraged to speak with their care team during a hospital stay to discuss individual circumstances.

Additional Visitation Guidelines

Visiting hours for specific units may vary. Please be sure to review the visitation guidelines below.

All visitation has the potential to be restricted due to a patient's clinical diagnosis.

• Maternity (Post Labor & Delivery/Post-Partum):
  • Father or significant other - Open visitation.
  • Grandparents and siblings of the baby - 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • All other visitors - 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Parent/guardian and one additional visitor - Open visitation except between 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Intensive Care Unit: Two visitors permitted - Open visitation except between 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Emergency Department: Two visitors permitted at bedside.
• Same Day Surgery (SDS): Open visitation - One visitor permitted in pre-op and post–op areas.
• Behavioral Health (by appointment): Daily - Two visitors 18 years of age and older permitted 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• COVID-19-Positive Inpatients: The visitors must stop at the nurse’s station for instruction about Personal Protective Equipment prior to entering the patient's room.

Children 12 years of age and older are permitted to visit patients in all Inpatient units. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Visitation exceptions can be made as needed to support our patients.

We encourage family members and friends to use alternative ways to interact with their loved ones, including phone calls, Facetime, Skype and other means.

Safety Measures

Upon checking in, please let a member of our team know if you are experiencing any of the following:

1. If you have a fever or have felt feverish in the last 24 hours or are experiencing COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms. Possible symptoms include, but are not limited to:
   • Fever or chills
   • Cough
   • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
   • Fatigue
   • Muscle or body aches
   • Headache
   • New loss of taste or smell
   • Sore throat
   • Congestion or runny nose
   • Nausea or vomiting
   • Diarrhea
2. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (or another contagious respiratory illness, such as influenza or RSV) within the last 10 days.
3. If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection (or another contagious respiratory illness) in the last 10 days even if you are asymptomatic.

Thank you for your cooperation and your efforts to help keep our patients, staff and communities safe.

If a visitor presents with cold or flu-like systems, that individual will not be allowed to visit or stay in the building. All visitors will be asked if they have been advised to self-quarantine because of exposure to someone with COVID-19. If any visitor has been advised to self-quarantine, they will not be allowed to visit. All visitors will be asked if they have been advised to isolate due to COVID-positive status in the last 10 days. If any visitor has been advised to isolate, they will not be allowed to visit.

In addition to the above, gatherings of family members, friends and other acquaintances of the patient in family lounges, waiting areas, the lobby, cafeteria or restaurants on campus will not be allowed.

Prior to and During the Visit

All visitors must perform hand hygiene before visiting a patient.

Once in the hospital or facility, visitors shall remain in the patient’s room (or Emergency Department bay) as much as possible throughout the visit, except when directed by hospital or facility staff to leave during aerosol-generating procedure or other procedures in which visitors are usually asked to leave.

If an aerosol-generating procedure needs to be performed on a patient, the visitor must leave the room during the procedure and for one hour after the procedure is complete.

All visitors must comply with all reasonable requirements imposed by the hospital or facility to minimize the potential spread of infection.

Gatherings of family members, friends and other acquaintances of the patient in family lounges, waiting areas, the lobby, cafeterias or restaurants on campus is not permitted.

RWJBH understands that a hospitalization can be a stressful and uncertain time for many. The visitation policy reflects our commitment to addressing the needs of our patients while prioritizing the safety of all those who enter our facilities.

Our staff and physicians are here to support you and your loved ones and will take into consideration any requests that are made beyond the parameters of this policy in the best interest of the patient.

With guidance from the New Jersey Hospital Association, New Jersey Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and regional and local health departments, we are taking all the necessary steps to ensure the health, well-being and safety of our patients, our staff and the communities we serve.

We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.