Valley Hospital Will Allow Visitors, But With Strict Guidelines

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Valley Hospital has released new visitation guidelines, allowing visitors to enter the hospital under strict regulations, in accordance with a state memorandum.

Visiting hours for "most" patients are noon to 8 p.m., with some exceptions for some units like hospice care, neonatal intensive care and pediatric care.

Though the restrictions have eased regulations around visitors in nearly all wings of the hospital, visitations will not be allowed for COVID-19 patients.

General guidelines include:

• COVID-19 symptom screening — including temperature testing — for all visitors
• Visitors must wear masks
• Visitation will be limited to the patient's room for the entire length of the visit
• People under self-quarantine orders are not allowed
• Visitors are asked not to eat while at the hospital, as it means they would need to remove their mask

Patients in semi-private rooms are allowed one visitor at a time, and the hospital will utilize an alternating schedule for these rooms.

This means patients in window-side beds can have visitors during even hours of the day, while patients in door-side beds may have visitors during odd hours.

The hospital also released guidance for visitors of various units in the hospital, as well as outpatient and procedural areas.