Visitation Policies

As of March 11, 2025

The hospital’s main doors are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Surgery and obstetrics patients, please continue to check in at the Emergency Room.

After 8 p.m. the main doors are locked. Those who visit after 8 p.m. will need to access the hospital through the emergency department doors. MHSC requests that visitors after 8 p.m. inform the emergency department clerks of intended destination.

Not feeling great? The visit can wait.

We understand that visiting loved ones is important to the visitor and the patient. Visitation is encouraged under normal circumstances. However, keeping our patients safe from acquiring further illness from the flu, a stomach bug or other communicable illness is our priority. Highly contagious illnesses and can be life threatening.

We urge anyone who has any signs of illness, to stay at home until they are well. This protects our patients and staff from potential exposure and illness.

Remember, the No. 1 way to prevent the spread of illness is by frequent handwashing. If you’re not feeling well, stay home and avoid public places to minimize the spread of illness to others and throughout the community.

If you arrive for a visit feeling fine, but a staff member detects signs of a viral infection, you will be asked to wear a mask and reschedule your visit. We understand this is disappointing. Please remember that it is necessary to keep our patients safe from infectious illness.

Precautions taken

We encourage visitation.

• For patients with infectious illnesses, visitation is restricted to those necessary for the patient’s care and all visitors must follow the same protective procedures as the staff while in the patient’s room. Staff will assist visitors with personal protective equipment.
• If you are sneezing, coughing or have allergy symptoms, please wear a mask.
• All visitors going to the Nursery, Dialysis or Medical Oncology, must wear a mask at all times.
• The Dialysis and the Oncology centers will continue with restricted visitation. These restrictions will be at the discretion of the respective department and patient need.

If a visitor does not abide by these guidelines, they may be instructed to leave the facility, and may be escorted out by MHSC Security if needed.

Face masks

Masks are to be worn when:

• Showing any signs or symptoms of respiratory illness, including allergy symptoms
• A fever or rash is present
• Performing direct care of a patient who is choosing to wear a mask, or interacting with a visitor who is choosing to wear a mask
• In the Cancer Center's Medical Oncology suite and Sweetwater Dialysis Center
• When precautions require the use of a mask

No potted plants allowed

Potted plants or latex balloons will not be delivered to patients or staff in patient care areas. If delivered, they will either be turned away or left at the Information Desk for the patient or staff member to pick up on their way out of the building.

We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have questions, call Infection Preventionist Barbara MacDonald at 307-352-8561.