Visiting Hours and Guidelines

At UNC Health Caldwell, we believe visitation is an important component to the healing process and have policies in place to try to allow visitation for as many patients as possible. All patients have the right to designate a support person who can be with the patient 24/7 as long as this person meets and follows the guidelines set forth below (exception: Covid positive patients may not be allowed to have overnight visitors except for extenuating circumstances to minimize spread of infection and allow rest for the patient).         

Screening Process and Visitation Guidelines    

All visitors, including children, are required to comply with the following:

• All visitors to Inpatient units must check in and out at the information desk in the main lobby. Visitors to patients in the Emergency Department should check in at the Emergency Department desk.  
• For outpatient clinics/departments and physician offices, one adult companion per patient is allowed. We continue to encourage individuals who are able to come alone to do so in order to support physical distancing efforts. 
  • Designated visiting hours for inpatient units are 9:00AM- 9:00PM for Monday-Friday and 8:00.AM-8:00PM on weekends and holidays (exception for designated support person).
  • No one under the age of 18 may visit unless extenuating circumstances apply.
  • Complete a COVID-19 Health Screening. No visitors with fever, cough/cold, or flu-like symptoms may enter unless extenuating circumstances exist. (See extenuating circumstances section below)                  
  • Patients may have two visitors in their room at a time.
  • Wear appropriate attire, and shoes for duration of the visit and if applicable, must follow Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines at all times if patient is on any isolation status.
  • Wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon entering and leaving a patient's room.
  • Maintain a "noise-free" environment by limiting conversations in the hallways, eliminating the use of cell phones in the hallways, not congregating outside of patient rooms, and traveling to and from their destination quietly.
  • Overnight visitation may be approved by department manager under extenuating circumstances (exception for designated support person).
  • Patients are allowed to have on-site community clergy at end of life for brief rituals, if desired, in addition to their approved designated visitors.
  • Depending upon the patient’s condition, visitation by family and friends may be limited at the discretion of the staff.

Extenuating Circumstances Surrounding Visitation

In some cases there may be extenuating circumstances. These are determined on a case-by-case basis. These decisions are made via collaborative communication between the medical and nursing team.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• End of life situations
• Cases where caregivers might be essential to patient care such as:
  • The patient requires support from family (ex: patients with dementia who are combative; patient with special communication needs).
  • The patient is developmentally delayed and/or unable to make medical decisions.

Guidelines Related to COVID-19 Visitation

• If extenuating circumstances are determined for a patient or visitor with a confirmed COVID-19 Infection, the guidelines below may apply:
• Two visitors will be allowed each day. Visitors may change daily.
• Visitors to COVID positive patient rooms may only visit in the patient's room. They should not visit other locations in the facility.
• Patients are allowed to have on-site community clergy at end of life for brief rituals, if desired, in addition to their approved designated visitors. If clergy visits a COVID-19 positive patient, they should limit the visitation to that patient only.
• Visitors must wear all PPE for the duration of their visit in the high risk zone.
• Visitors are encouraged not to eat or drink in the patient's room.
• Visitation strongly discouraged during aerosol-generating procedures.
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  • Visitors will be asked to leave and may not be able to visit again if they remove any PPE while in the high risk zone or are unable or unwilling to comply with these safety measures

ICU Visiting Hours

Intensive Care visiting hours are (exception for designated support person):

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Thank you for waiting in the ICU Waiting Room outside of visitation hours. If at any time you have questions and/or concerns, you may contact the ICU nurse’s station at 757-5452.

Behavioral Health: Jonas Hill

• Visiting hours for Jonas Hill Behavioral Health are 1900-2000 Monday through Friday, and 1500-1600 on weekends.
• Visitors must first complete the standard COVID-19 Screening questions.
• 2 Visitors allowed at a time.

Violations of the visitation guidelines may result in immediate withdrawal of visitation privileges for the individual violating the guidelines

Concerns Related to Visitation

If any patient of the Hospital believes that his or her patient visitation rights have been violated, a complaint may be filed by:

Voicing complaints directly to your Nurse/caregiver or calling the Hospital Hot Line from your hospital room at 757-5555.

You may also voice complaints to the state agency by calling 1-800-624-3004 or writing to the NC Department of Health and Human Services