Patients and Visitors
As a patient and family-centered care organization, Memorial Healthcare System recognizes the need for patients and their families to stay in touch during a hospital stay. Given that COVID-19 is a global pandemic and a highly infectious disease, Memorial had to take precautionary steps to preserve the well-being of our patients, staff, and physicians by restricting its visitation policy to prevent unnecessary exposure. This allows us to continue our life-saving efforts in the battle against COVID-19.
We remain grateful for our community’s patience and understanding during this time of uncertainty. Our clinical teams will work collaboratively with families to ensure they remain informed about their loved one during a hospital stay.
If you are visiting our facilities for an appointment please review our appointment guidelines.
If you are planning a visit to a resident at Memorial Manor click here for more information.
Updated Visitor Policy
Memorial’s extended COVID-19 Visitation policy will follow Broward County’s risk level. Each risk level has a detailed visitation policy.
Visitation guidelines will be re-evaluated based on the positivity rates of newly admitted patients, and community information found in COVID Act Now.
Visitor Guidelines During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Severe Risk — No visitors allowed
| Patient Type | COVID-19 Positive Patient |
COVID-19 Negative Patient |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalized | No visitation | compassionate visit* |
| Outpatient | No visitation | No visitation |
| Emergency | No visitation | No visitation |
| Labor and Delivery | No visitation | One designated visitor during labor and postpartum (not allowed to leave and re-enter) |
| Pediatric | One designated parent/guardian per 24 hours | One designated parent/guardian per 24 hours |
*One designated visitor allowed at the discretion of the care team
Very High Risk — Limited visitation allowed
| Patient Type | COVID-19 Positive Patient |
COVID-19 Negative Patient |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalized | Compassionate visit* |
One fully vaccinated visitor once a day from 10am-12pm daily.
The visitor must present their COVID vaccination card upon entry. Note: For patients in semi-private rooms, visitation will be restricted to one hour. |
| Hospitalized Critical Care (ICU) | Compassionate visit* | One fully vaccinated visitor for 1 hour from 12-1pm based on the determination from the medical team.
The visitor must present their COVID vaccination card upon entry. |
| End-of-life | Compassionate visit* | Up to two visitors at the discretion of leadership; times may be variable based on the patient's clinical status. (Unvaccinated Visitors are Permitted) |
| Outpatient | No visitation | No visitation |
| Emergency | No visitation | No visitation |
| Labor and Delivery | No visitation | One visitor per patient may be allowed within the facility with special guidance. (Unvaccinated Visitors are Permitted). |
| Special Needs Population | No visitation | One visitor per patient may be allowed within the facility with special guidance. (Unvaccinated Visitors are Permitted). |
| Hospitalized Behavioral Health | No visitation | One visitor per patient can access the Behavioral Health Building from 4 to 5 pm daily (Unvaccinated Visitors are Permitted). |
| Pediatric | One designated parent/guardian | For appointments: Only one parent/guardian can accompany the patient to the appointment. (Unvaccinated Visitors are Permitted) For hospitalized patients: One designated parent/guardian(s) is allowed at all times within the facility. And second parent/caregiver is allowed between the hours of 4:30pm through 8:00pm everyday, for all admitted patients. (Unvaccinated Visitors are Permitted) Children, including siblings of any age, may not visit at this time. |
*One designated visitor allowed at the discretion of the care team.
High Risk — Limited visitation allowed
| Patient Type | COVID-19 Positive Patient |
COVID-19 Negative Patient |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalized | Compassionate visit* |
One visitor once a day from 10am-12pm daily. Note: For patients in semi-private rooms, visitation will be restricted to one hour. |
| Hospitalized Critical Care (ICU) | Compassionate visit* | Critical Care visiting hours: 12-1pm. One visitor based on the determination from the medical team. |
| End-of-life | Compassionate visit* | Up to two visitors at the discretion of leadership; times may be variable based on the patient's clinical status. |
| Outpatient | No visitation | No visitation |
| Emergency | No visitation | No visitation |
| Labor and Delivery | No visitation | One visitor per patient may be allowed within the facility with special guidance. |
| Special Needs Population | No visitation | One visitor per patient may be allowed within the facility with special guidance. |
| Pediatric | One designated parent/guardian | For appointments: Only one parent/guardian can accompany the patient to the appointment. For hospitalized patients: One designated parent/guardian(s) is allowed at all times within the facility. And one visitor may be allowed within the facility from 4:30pm through 8:00pm daily. |
*One designated visitor allowed at the discretion of the care team.
Medium Risk — Expanded but limited visitation allowed
Daily visiting Hours 9 am to noon; 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm or alternately hour per hospitalized patient – daily
Patients in Semi-Private Rooms, visitations will be restricted to 1 alternate hour per hospitalized patient during visiting hours (Visiting hours are subject to change.)
| Patient Type | COVID-19 Positive Patient |
COVID-19 Negative Patient |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalized | Compassionate visit* | One visitor |
| Hospitalized Critical Care (ICU) | Compassionate visit* | One visitor 1 hour: noon to 1 pm or 7 to 8pm |
| Outpatient | No visitation | No visitation |
| Emergency | No visitation | No visitation |
| Labor and Delivery | No visitation | Two designated visitors during labor and postpartum |
| Pediatric | One parent/guardian | For appointments: Only one parent/guardian can accompany the patient to the appointment. For hospitalized patients: Two designated parent/guardian(s) can be at the bedside from 4:30pm through 8:00pm. For the remaining hours of the day, only one parent/guardian may remain at the bedside. |
*One designated visitor allowed at the discretion of the care team.
Low Risk — Normal visitation policy
Visitors are allowed to visit. They will be screened and must follow universal mask requirements and visiting guidelines.
Hospital Visiting Guidelines:
- Present COVID vaccination card upon entry
- All visitors must wear properly fitting mask throughout their visit to the facility.
- All visitors will be screened upon entrance
- Visitors must comply with hand hygiene.
- Visitors must remain within the patient room for the entirety of their visit.
- Visitors should not visit the cafeteria, gift shop, or other common areas of the hospital.
- Visitors should exit the hospital immediately upon leaving the patient’s room.
Visitors will not be allowed to visit if they have any of the following:
- Any symptoms consistent with COVID-19
- A temperature greater than 100.0 F
- Active COVID-19 infection
Universal Mask Visitor requirements
- Visitors: All visitors will be provided a surgical mask by the hospital. Visitors may wear it over any personal mask. Masks must be worn continuously until they leave the building, per Universal Mask Procedure.
- Gaiters or masks with uncovered valves are not permitted.
Lost COVID-19 Vaccine Card
If you received your COVID-19 vaccine at Memorial Healthcare System, you may find a copy of your vaccination record in MyChart.
Following these steps:
- Login to your MyChart portal.
- Choose the Menu icon
- On the dropdown menu under My Record click on COVID-19
- You will find your vaccine records with Memorial under this section.
Hospitalized Behavioral Health
No food or liquid beverages may be brought into Behavioral Health at this time. All visitors and patients must remain in the assigned area/room during visitation. They will be screened and must follow universal mask requirements and visiting guidelines. No visitation within the psychiatric emergency department.
Compassionate Care and Special Needs Populations
Caregiver/support person of patients who have special needs will be considered, subject to all the hospital restrictions during COVID.
