Visiting Hours and Policy

EFFECTIVE MONDAY, April 4, 2022:

Masking

Masks are not required for Methodist Health System patients, visitors and health care staff in public or patient care settings, regardless of vaccination status (COVID-19 and/or influenza). This includes Methodist acute care hospitals, ambulatory venues and home health locations.

Masking may still be required at Dunklau Gardens depending on the transmission rate in Dodge County. Please check with Dunklau Gardens administration if you have questions.

Please note:

• Individuals may choose to continue to wear masks.
• Regulatory mandates will supersede any relaxation in masking requirements.
• All staff and providers who are asked by a patient to wear a mask are expected to do so.
• This does not apply to masking requirements for other purposes, including patients, staff and visitors in respiratory/droplet/airborne isolation and employee health return-to-work requirements.

Visitors and Support Persons

Clinics:

• There are no restrictions on the number of support persons allowed to accompany a patient at Methodist Physicians Clinics, Hospital-Owned Clinics and Outpatient Diagnostics.

Hospitals:

• There are no restrictions on the number of visitors for patients during regular visiting hours.
• In Surgical Care Settings, two support persons are permitted in the waiting areas during regular visiting hours at hospital locations.

Emergency Departments:

• The Emergency Department (ED) allows up to two visitors/support persons to stay with an ED patient. Additional visitor restrictions may apply, as determined by the patient care team. 

Critical Care, NICU and Other Specialty Units:

• Critical care, NICU and other specialty units may have additional visitor-specific guidelines.
• In Inpatient Behavioral Health Settings, two adult support persons per day are permitted.

Additional Information

• Patients receiving end-of-life care as determined by the care team are an exception to the policies above.
• Additional exceptions may be discussed with the facility's administrative personnel or infection prevention experts.
• It is the expectation that family and visitors are free of communicable diseases and comply with infection control regulations and other Methodist Health System policies and procedures.
• Family or visitor presence may be limited during times of seasonal and/or transmissible illness in the community

FOR LOCATION SPECIFIC VISITING HOURS AND POLICIES, SELECT FROM THE OPTIONS BELOW.

• Dunklau Gardens Visitor Policy
• Methodist Fremont Health Visitor Policy
• Methodist Hospital Visitor Policy
• Methodist Jennie Edmundson Visitor Policy
• Methodist Women's Hospital Visitor Policy
• Methodist Physicians Clinic Visitor Policy: Masking is optional at some Methodist Physician Clinics. Please be mindful of the posted signage indicating if a mask is required. There are no restrictions on the number of support persons allowed to accompany a patient.