Updated:
If visiting after 8 p.m., please enter through the Emergency Department.
Visitor Guidelines:
- All visitors are required to stop at reception, share a photo ID along with their destination, and receive a photo visitor badge.
- Visitors are required to wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines while inside a Sentara facility, regardless of vaccination status. If they do not have a mask, a mask will be provided.
- Visitors will only be allowed if they do not have symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath).
- Visitors will be required to always keep their mask on and must stay in the patient's room. No food or drink is allowed into the clinical area.
- Visitors must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting patient room.
- Please read the additional safety guidelines if visiting a COVID-19 patient or patient suspected of having COVID-19.
Visitation Policy for COVID-19 patients and PUI of COVID:
- COVID-19 positive and PUI patients will be limited to one (1) designated visitor until the patient is no longer in isolation.
- This includes Labor & Delivery/Family Maternity Center COVID-19 positive patients. Doulas are not included in the visitor count.
Emergency Department
Visitation in the Emergency Department is subject to change based on number of patients and visitors.
Women's Health Center – Maternity & Postpartum Unit
Masking is required of all individuals within the department and within patient rooms.
Postpartum, Labor & Delivery:
- 3-visitor maximum at one time in the patient room. Visitors may swap out. (note: doulas are not included in this count)
- Only 1 support person may stay overnight (except for patients in active labor)
- Only 1 support person in triage/epidural/OR/ PACU
- No visitors under the age of 12 except siblings
NICU:
- 4 total visitors on the visitor's list
- 2 visitors at a time at the bedside. May swap out.
- Siblings 12 years and older may visit with adult if they are up to date with their immunizations and show no signs of illness. Will not count towards visitor's list; however, will count as a bedside visitor. Siblings must be appropriately screened, masked, and adhere to handwashing recommendations.
- Each NICU has the right to be more restrictive when necessary
Women's Health Center, COVID Visitation:
- Only one support person is allowed
- The support person must wear a mask at all times while staff are in the room
- NICU: no visitors while infant is a PUI. If COVID is ruled out for infant, visitation will adhere to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines