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Visitor Guidelines

Baptist Health Visitor Guidelines

These guidelines apply to all visitors across Baptist Health hospitals.Please note visitation specifics may change from facility to facility and unit to unit and may be more regularly updated at local areas of posting. Please refer to your care team at the local facility for directions.

Visitor Limits

  • Visitors must check in upon arrival.
  • Visitors will not be permitted to stand in the hallways and may be asked to go to waiting areas to avoid congestion.
  • In the interest of patient and employee privacy, please be aware that photographing or recording is not permitted unless it is authorized by the staff.
    • Video or photos may be taken of infants once delivered with consent by the parents, but must not capture direct patient care, treatment, other patients, medical providers, or workforce members.
  • The maximum number of hospital visitors at the bedside is determined at the discretion of the care team. 
  • Some units may have more or less restrictive visitation policies based on limitations of unit/room size and vulnerable patients.
  • Visitation hours vary by hospital campus and by unit.
  • One visitor may stay overnight at the discretion of the care team. The visitor must adhere to appropriate safety practices.
  • Visitors may be asked to leave the room when care is being administered.
  • To ensure patient safety and prevent foodborne illness, Baptist Health staff are not permitted to  refrigerate any food brought from outside sources. This applies to both  home-cooked meals and items purchased from restaurants or grocery stores.  
  • No pets allowed. Service animals are permitted. For more information about service animals: https://life-changing-health.info/legal-notices%3C/a%3E%3C/li%3E
  • Children under 14 years of age may visit only when accompanied by an adult visitor 21 years of age and over.
    • Parents, guardians, or authorized caregivers are responsible for the supervision and safety of their children while on the organization’s premises.

Illness and Screening

  • Visitors must be free of any signs of illness, including but not limited to: fever, cough, cold symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting, or known exposure to a contagious disease (e.g., flu, COVID-19). The unit reserves the right to screen visitors and restrict entry if illness is suspected.
    • In the event of an infectious disease outbreak or other critical safety concerns, visitation guidelines may be temporarily adjusted by hospital administration.
  • All visitors must perform hand hygiene (using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer) upon entering and exiting the patient room, and before touching an infant (if in a women’s and children’s room). 

Minimizing Noise and Disturbance

  • Cell phone use should be discreet, and ringers should be silenced.
  • Smoking or vaping is not allowed on our hospital campuses.
  • Out of courtesy to patients, please use civil language and respectful conduct. Visitors who create excessive noise and/or disruptive behavior may be asked to leave.
    • Attacking a healthcare worker is a felony. Signs are posted in patient care areas as reminders. *Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-13-202
  • Visitors are expected to keep voices low and refrain from activities that may disturb the patient or neighboring patients.

Visitor Accountability

  • Our patients are our first priority. If the nurse or a member of the care team at any time feels it is in the best interest of the patient to delay/hold visitation, full cooperation is expected.
  • If a visitor refuses to leave when directed, security will be called, and that visitor will not be allowed to return.

Questions surrounding visitation should be brought to the care team, you can request a manager or supervisor if you have further questions surrounding visitation. Please remember that visitation may need to be restricted by nursing according to the patients and staff needs. 

Arkansas Code § 20-6-401

Unit-Specific Information

Unit-specific information supplements the general guidelines above. Refer to the general guidelines for anything not specifically covered below.

Waiting Rooms/Areas

Emergency Department waiting areas are open to one family member per patient.

Surgery and Procedure waiting areas are open to two family members per patient.

All other waiting areas are closed.

Emergency Department

One visitor/support person is allowed with the patient, including in the waiting room.

Critical Care Areas

Two family members are allowed depending on the patient’s condition and operational hospital decisions.

No live flowers allowed in Critical Care Areas

Please limit Food and Drink while in the patient’s room

End-of-Life Care/Withdrawal of Care

Up to eight family members are allowed to visit and are managed by the care team.

Behavioral Health

Visitation hours by facility are listed below. One visitor is allowed per day. Must be 18 or older.

  • Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock:
    • 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (8th floor and 4th floor)
  • Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock (Geri-Psych): 
    • 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. 
  • Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County
    • 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (depending on the hallway)
  • Baptist Health Medical Center- North Little Rock
    •  4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Baptist Health-Fort Smith
    • Noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday 
    • Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Women’s & Children’s

Visitor Limits

  • General visiting hours are 8am-8pm, 7 days a week
  • Due to infant security, we kindly ask to keep in and out traffic to a minimum.
  • A birthparent can designate one (1) support person (DSP) with 24/7 access, who is considered part of the care team.
  • Delivery Guidelines
    • C-section visitors are limited to one (1), who must wear surgical attire, and no observers are allowed if general anesthesia is used.
      • Visitors must maintain a 3 foot perimeter from any blue drapes and remain in the designated area communicated by the care team.  
    • Patients may have up to two (2) additional support people with the DSP during labor & delivery and may be switched out except during delivery. 
  • Postpartum and Antenatal Guidelines
    • Visitation is limited to four (4) at a time and may be switched out. 
  • Children under 14 who are not siblings of the newborn are generally not permitted.
  • Visitors may be asked to leave during medical procedures or essential nursing care.
  • Additional restrictions or exceptions may be made based on the patient status and circumstances. You must follow the direction of your care team. 
  • In the interest of patient and employee privacy, please be aware that photographing or recording is not permitted unless it is authorized by the staff.
    • Video or photos may be taken of infants once delivered with consent by the parents, but must not capture direct patient care, treatment, other patients, medical providers, or workforce members.
  • No visitors, except those present for the birth are allowed during the "golden hour" (the hour following delivery).

Sibling of Newborn (< 16 y/o) Visitation*

  • Healthy siblings of the newborn may visit during general visitation hours.
  • Ill siblings should not visit.
  • Siblings of the newborn must be supervised by an adult (other than the patient).
  • Siblings of the newborn are not permitted to stay overnight.

Visitor Accountability

Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in restrictions on visitation privileges to ensure the safety and recovery of the mother and baby.

NICU

Visitor Information

  • Rules for visitors (18+) including scrubbing in, cell phone cleaning, and temperature checks.
  • Sibling of newborn visitation is welcomed in certain units (Little Rock 2K and 6D) but is at staff discretion and restricted during cold and flu season.