Visitation Policies

The following are guidelines, which may be modified at any time based on specific patient needs.

Bristol Hospital ensures that all visitors enjoy visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences. Patients (or a support person, where appropriate) have the right to receive visitors they designate, including, but not limited to, a spouse (including a same-sex spouse), a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), another family member (including same-sex parents), or a friend.

Bristol Hospital will not deny visitation privileges based on race, religion, ethnicity, language, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Patients are notified of their right to have visitors and to designate a “support person” of their choosing. Patients have the right to change their minds about such a designation, in which case they should notify the health care provider if they no longer want a particular person to visit.

As a patient at Bristol Hospital, you have the right to:

• Designate the individuals you would like to visit during your hospital stay, including but not limited to family members, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), or a friend.
• Have all designated visitors enjoy the same visitation privileges that immediate family members would enjoy.
• Withdraw or deny your consent for certain designated visitors.
• Receive visitors designated by you during normal visitation hours (generally 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM, though individual departments may have different visitation guidelines to ensure patient safety).
• Designate a maximum of two (2) visitors at the bedside.
• Not have visitation privileges restricted, limited, or denied based on race, color, national origin, religion, disability, payment source, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Please be aware that certain clinical restrictions or limitations, as outlined below, may apply to your visitation rights:

• Visitation may be restricted for the health and safety of the patient or hospital staff, at the discretion of the hospital.
• Visitors may be asked to leave the patient care area at any time to facilitate physician/nursing care and/or procedures.
• Visits that are not beneficial, therapeutic, or that place the patient and/or visitor at risk for infectious disease may be restricted as deemed appropriate by the patient care team.
• Designated visitors who have experienced a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, skin rash, vomiting, or diarrhea in the 48 hours prior to the visit may be discouraged from visiting to ensure the health and safety of the patient and hospital staff.
• Visitors who are disruptive or disturb patients, staff, or other visitors will be asked to stop the disruptive behavior and may be escorted from the premises by Security if such behavior does not cease.

Designated visitors within a patient room shall be limited as indicated by department-specific guidelines to ensure the utmost patient safety and efficient department operation. For specific visitation guidelines for your department, please ask the nursing staff or the Department Director. A copy of Bristol Hospital’s hospital-wide policy on visitation is available upon request.