Visitor Policies

Brigham and Women's Hospital is a patient- and family-focused environment. We understand the need of our patients to have visitors and the need of family and friends to provide support to their loved one while in the hospital. The health and safety of our patients, visitors and staff remains our top priority.

Mask and Screening Policy Update

Please note that our screening and masking policies have changed effective May 12, 2023 following the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Learn more about our mask and screening policies

Inpatients

Patients admitted to the hospital are allowed up to two healthy visitors at a time between 9 am to 9 pm. There are no restrictions on the total number of visitors per day.

Support Persons are considered in addition to the two visitors. If more than two visitors arrive at a time for a patient, they may visit the following available waiting spaces:

Garden Café, including a patient/visitor distanced dining zone
75 Francis Lobby
Cohn Courtyard Tent
45 Francis Lobby
Connors 1 Lobby
Alcoves along the Pike, including the one by Thorn
Shapiro Bridge
Hale Atrium
Fish Lobby
Stoneman Park
Hale Ground Floor Schlager Lobby

Labor and Delivery Units, Antenatal and Postpartum Areas

Support persons are welcome throughout the stay.
Visiting hours are daily from 9 AM to 9 PM.
Two visitors are allowed a time, in addition to the designated support persons.
Visitors under the age of 18 are not allowed unless they are a sibling to the infant and accompanied by a support person or adult.

Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Two support persons allowed at any time.
Visiting hours are daily from 9 AM to 9 PM.
Two visitors are allowed at a time.
Siblings of the infant are welcome to visit if accompanied by a support person.
Visitors under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by a support person or adult.

Outpatients

Procedural Areas

A single visitor or Support Person is permitted.

Ambulatory Outpatient Areas

A single visitor or Support Person is preferred, however up to two may be permitted.

Emergency Department

A single visitor or Support Person is permitted in the Emergency Department to accompany the patient. Visitation may be restricted due to space constraints per local leadership.

Visiting permitted 24 hours a day.
One visitor or support person for adult patients.
Two visitors or support persons for pediatric patients.
Visitation may be restricted during times of high volume or for care-related reasons.

Visitor Requests/Exceptions

Any exceptions to the current visitor policy must be reviewed and approved by Brigham leadership. These decisions are based on clinical reasons. Please contact your provider if you would like to discuss an exception.

Check your symptoms

Please delay your visit to one of our facilities if:

You develop any of the following symptoms:
Fever or chills
Cough, congestion, or runny nose
Vomiting or diarrhea
New skin rash (with fever)

or
You are diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19 within 10 days of an appointment.

Visitor Questions

Family and friends who wish to learn about a patient's status can call 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 that patients have the right to limit access to information and condition.

Please refer to the Mass General Brigham Visitor Policy for additional information.