Important Information About Visitation Guidelines
at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton
Effective November 9, 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.
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Inpatient acute care units: Two visitors allowed, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Emergency Department: Two visitors allowed.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Safety Measures
In response to an early surge in flu and rising respiratory virus cases, RWJBarnabas Health has updated our visitation guidelines to protect our patients, staff and communities.
Please see the RWJBarnabas Health visitation page for the latest masking guidelines.
Please refrain from visiting if you are currently feeling ill or have a fever.
We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.
