Visiting Hours and Policies
Visiting Hours and Policies
New York State ended its mask mandate in clinical care facilities on Feb. 13, 2023. Following state and federal guidance, Golisano Children's Hospital has developed a new policy on visitor masking and infection prevention that balances patient and staff safety with convenience.
Masking is encouraged for patients and visitors, and masks will be provided on request. In some areas where patients may be especially vulnerable, such as the Wilmot Cancer Center tower and select outpatient infusion centers and clinical areas, everyone is required to mask in all patient and public areas. Please adhere to signage in those areas and/or staff requests for you to mask.
Masking is encouraged for patients and visitors, and masks will be provided on request. In some areas where patients may be especially vulnerable, such as the Wilmot Cancer Center tower and select outpatient infusion centers and clinical areas, everyone is required to mask in all patient and public areas. Please adhere to signage in those areas and/or staff requests for you to mask.
Visiting Hours & Rules
8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Parent/Guardian must be present for visitors to be allowed up to a patient room.
- Parents/guardians can choose support people who may visit when the parents are not there. These people will be added to the visitor list in the medical record.
- Visitors under the age of 18 years old may be allowed to visit, if approved by the parent/guardian and an adult is present. In our intensive care units, visitors who are not siblings, must be 12 years old or older.
- All visitors will get a badge at the GCH Guest Services desk, This badge needs to be worn at all times. For safety reasons, visitors must show photo identification.
- 4 visitors at the bedside at a time.
- At the discretion of the treatment team or unit leadership, we may request a limitation of 2 people at the bedside
- Up to 2 parents/guardians may stay overnight depending on the unit. On some units, like the NICU and Pediatric Surgical Center, sleeping accommodation will be provided for one parent. Please check with unit leadership.
Siblings of Patients
- Siblings are not permitted to visit in the Pediatric Surgical Center
- General Care – siblings may visit during visiting hours
- ICUs (NICU, PICU, PCCC) – Siblings ages 3 and older are permitted for supervised visits, based on the acuity of the patient. There may be further restrictions at the unit level.
- No one under the age of 18 will be allowed to spend the night unless they are the patient’s parent
- NICU Sibling Guidelines
- Siblings 3 years old and up may visit in the NICU.
- Discuss the best time for a sibling visit with your baby’s nurse.
- Siblings must be supervised by an adult at all times.
- Siblings must be free of any signs of illness (runny nose, fever, cough, etc.).
- A Sibling Health Screen will be completed by a nurse before for each visit.
- Siblings may be asked to step out for rounds or change of shift if their behavior interferes with the safe exchange of information. Nursing change of shift is between 6:45 - 7:45 p.m.
NICU Visitation
Read all the NICU visitation guidleines.
Pediatric Emergency Department
2 parents/guardians at a time with the patient, when volume and safety within the department permit.