Important Information About Visitation Guidelines
at Jersey City Medical Center
Effective February 16, 2026
Visiting Hours
Standard Visiting Hours
All RWJBarnabas Health adult acute-care hospitals hold visiting hours from 8 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 before visiting.
Adults
- Labor and Delivery: Two (2) visitors per patient.
- Post-partum/Mother-Baby: Two (2) visitors per patient. Overnight accommodations available for one (1) person.
- Med / Surg Units: Two (2) visitors are permitted from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
-
Critical Care: Two (2) visitors are permitted from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Restricted visiting
hours may be requested under the nurse's clinical discretion for the safety
of the patient. No eating or drinking at the bedside.
Extenuating circumstances to the guidelines and individual requests will always be considered based on the best interest and needs of the individual patient. - Behavioral Health: One visitor during specialized visitation hours with pre-scheduled appointment. All visitors must be 18 years or older.
- Emergency Department: One (1) visitor per patient.
Pediatrics
- Pediatric Inpatient: Two (2) parents or guardians.
- NICU: Two (2) parents or guardians.
- Pediatric Emergency Room: Two (2) parents or guardians.
Ambulatory Facilities / Same Day Surgery
- Same Day Surgery: Two (2) visitors per patient.
- Ambulatory Centers: Two (2) visitors per patient.
Special Circumstances
- Patients with disabilities where the disability may be due to intellectual or cognitive disability: Two (2) designated support persons are allowed to remain with the patient.
- COVID-19 Positive Inpatients: Visitation restricted.
Do not visit if you are sick or feeling unwell. Patients in semi-private, two (2) bedded rooms must consider night time rest and privacy of the other patient overnight.
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.
Safety Measures
Upon checking in, please let a member of our team know if you are experiencing any of the following:
-
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
- If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (or another contagious respiratory illness, such as influenza or RSV) within the last 10 days.
- 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.
When indicated, individuals may wear their own face mask/covering. If they do not have their own face mask/covering they will be provided one. While cloth masks are permitted, surgical masks are preferred.
The following are NOT PERMITTED as face covering as they do not protect others from bacteria spread, per the CDC:
- masks with a vent/valve
- gaiters
- handkerchiefs
An instruction sheet for how to wear face masks is posted throughout our facilities.
If an individual is permitted to visit a COVID-19-positive patient because of extenuating circumstances or if a patient is on isolation precautions, they will be provided with and must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the CDC. Staff will direct the visitor on the appropriate PPE.
If a visitor refuses to wear a mask or other PPE as indicated, that individual will be asked to leave the facility.
Prior to and During the Visit
All visitors must perform hand hygiene before visiting a patient.
Once in the hospital or facility, permitted 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.
Jersey City Medical Center and 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.
When not available to visit, we encourage family members and friends to use alternative ways to interact with their loved ones, including phone calls, FaceTime, Skype and other means.
We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.
