Visitors

Visiting Hours

Family and friends are encouraged to visit between 1pm and 9pm to allow the patient’s health and personal care needs to be met.

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Visiting Policies

1. Age of visitors: Children under the age of twelve are permitted only if they are siblings, children, or grandchildren of patients. Children must have adult supervision (other than the patient) at all times.
2. Visitors’ health: All visitors must be free of infection or communicable diseases. Friends and family with fever, flu-like symptoms, or other symptoms of infection should not visit.
3. Number of visitors: It is usually best to limit visitors to two at a time, to respect the comfort of all our patients. We encourage families to discuss scheduling their visits, in order not to overwhelm the patient by visiting all at one time. While support from loved ones is important, we also ask that visitors respect the patient's need for rest. Discuss any unusual visiting circumstances with the patient's nurse, so that the health care team might accommodate any special arrangements based on the patient's specific situation. Family waiting rooms at the Bretholtz Center and Shapiro Center are available for visitors when they are not able to be in the patient’s room. We also offer seating in the lobbies of 75 Francis Street, 45 Francis Street, and 15 Francis Street, as well as a surgical waiting area in Tower 1.
4. Support person: The hospital recognizes the health benefits provided by the presence of loved ones while patients are in the hospital. We welcome one designated family member or support person to stay with the patient at any time. This designated support person's visits would only be limited by the patient's need for medical care or treatments, rest, privacy, and patient preference. A support person may be a spouse, adult child, parent, close relative, friend, domestic partner, and both different sex and same sex significant others.
5. No smoking: Visitors are not permitted to smoke while on hospital property, except in designated smoking shelters.
6. Restricted cell phone use: Cellular phones may not be used within six feet of any electronic patient care equipment.
7. Restricted flower deliveries: Please note that flower delivery may be restricted in intensive care units as well as other patient care areas, such as oncology units. We encourage you to check in with the nursing staff before sending or bringing flowers. For your convenience, you may order flowers through our gift and floral shop.
8. No latex balloons: Latex balloons are not permitted in the hospital. Mylar balloons are appreciated.
9. Visits after 9pm: Visitors entering the hospital after 9pm must enter through the 75 Francis Street lobby. The security officer will contact the patient’s unit with the visitor’s name. The nurse responsible for the patient will support the need for the visit based on the patient’s medical condition, safety concerns, or preference for visitors.
10. Patient status: Family and friends may inquire about a patient’s status by calling 617-732-5500. Immediate family are asked to please identify one primary family member to contact the patient’s nurse directly on the unit. (Please note: Patients have the right to limit access to information, condition and visitors.)

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