Important Information About Visitation Guidelines

at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

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 visiting.

• Inpatient acute care units: Two visitors allowed, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Emergency Department: Two visitors allowed.

• Surgery: Provided social distancing can be accomplished, one visitor is allowed for surgery and procedure patients until the patient is taken to the pre-op area. One visitor is allowed when patient is in recovery and preparing for discharge.

• End-of-life: No limit on number of visitors permitted, provided care team approves and deems it is safe and feasible to meet social distancing guidelines. Patients who are critically ill and patients at end of life: Every effort will be made to accommodate a patient’s and family’s need for extended periods of visiting.

• COVID-19-positive patients: No visitors are permitted except for circumstances approved by the care team.

• Immunocompromised patients: No visitors are allowed except for circumstances approved by the care team.
• Pediatric psychiatric patients: Only one visitor is allowed if/when a mutual agreement between the care team and the parents/guardian has been reached. Patients with a physical or cognitive disability, who have a designated caregiver: Two visitors are allowed.
• Patients with disabilities where the disability may be due to altered mental status, intellectual or cognitive disability, communication barriers or behavioral concerns: ONE designated support person is allowed to remain with the patient.
• Age restriction only applies to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); No children under the age of 12 will be permitted unless authorized and approved for special circumstances.

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

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:

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.

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.