With the state fully reopening in late May, and more than 50 percent of Massachusetts adults fully vaccinated, Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) has revised its visitation guidance for patients. We are pleased to be able to welcome more visitors to Anna Jaques Hospital (AJH) so our patients may safely connect in person with additional loved ones.
This update replaces all previous BILH inpatient guidance and is effective Monday, June 7, 2021 at AJH.
Below are highlights of the new guidance. Please note that the guidance for ambulatory, procedural, labor and delivery and postpartum areas remains unchanged.
More information about the visitation guidance – including tools and instructions to screen visitors/support persons/essential escorts when they enter a facility – is posted on the BILH COVID-19 website, in the Visitation Guidance and Screening Tools for Patients and Visitors section.
Updates to AJH Visitation Guidance
Inpatients (including Antepartum Units)
- Visitors are not allowed for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
- Visitors to the adult and pediatric behavioral health units remain unchanged at this time.
- All other patients may have a maximum of two (2) visitors at a time.
- Visiting hours will return to 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm, 7 days a week.
- There is no maximum on the number of visitors a patient may have per day; however, individuals may not wait in the lobby while awaiting their turn to visit.
- Two individuals may visit simultaneously as space allows.
- Space constraints only allow for one visitor or support person in the APR/OR waiting area.
- Visit duration is determined by the patient and family, in consultation with their caregiving team.
- All visitors must wear a BILH-provided surgical mask, fully covering the nose and mouth at all times while in the hospital regardless of vaccination status.
- Children under the age of 18 may not visit unless they are visiting a hospitalized parent or sibling. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Two visitors will be allowed on the Birth Center in addition to a support person. The Birth Center will maintain Quiet Hours from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm daily.
- Outside visitors are now welcome to enjoy the Gift Shop, the Featured Artist Wall, and the cafeteria.
- Departments may now begin to offer on-site programs for patients, such as Birth Center Tours and Total Joint Replacement classes.
Patients, Essential Escorts, Support Persons, and Visitors
- Screening question about exposure to someone with COVID-19 has been removed.
- Screening questions have been updated to shorten time from prior COVID-19 diagnosis to 10 days.
- The screening tool does not ask about vaccination status because this would not change entry criteria. Any person with symptoms or recent COVID-19 diagnosis in the prior 10 days should not enter the facility. Additionally, questions about vaccination status would slow down screening at points of entry.
- Translations of screening tools will be posted on the BILH COVID-19 website as they become available.
We hope our expanded visitor guidance is welcome news for patients and their families. Thank you for all that you do for our patients.