Visitor Information

Community Memorial recognizes that family presence and visitation plays an important role in a patient’s healing and recovery. It is a patient’s right to designate visitors of their choice, whether or not the visitor is related by blood or marriage. Visitation will not be restricted, limited, or denied based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The hospital may limit visitation when clinically necessary, or when visitation may interfere with patient care. To ensure safety of our patients, we will restrict access into the hospital after hours and to those with potentially communicable conditions.

Masking Guidelines

Aseptic masks are strongly recommended for all visitors to our hospitals in Ventura and Ojai. Masks are available at hospital entrances.

Aseptic masks are required for:

Visitors to the Critical Care Unit (CCU)
Visitors to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Anyone with cold-like symptoms

For the safety of our patients, physicians, and staff, we ask that you do not visit our hospitals if you have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the last two days, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days.

Those who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days should wear an N-95 respirator mask at all times while in our hospitals. N-95 masks are available at lobby reception or by asking a member of our security team.

General Visitor Guidelines

General visiting hours are from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. One family/support person may be allowed to stay overnight when needed based on patient condition and psychosocial needs as determined by the Charge Nurse or Nursing Management.

For the safety of our patients and children visitors, we recommend limiting the duration and frequency of children visiting the hospital. Children that are immediate family of the patient (children, grandchildren) are permitted to visit. Children younger than 14 years old must be supervised by an adult, other than the patient, at all times. Children may not stay overnight.

The number of visitors per patient is limited to two at a time.

Visitors with fever, rash, cough or other signs of infectious illness should not visit. All visitors are expected to clean hands when entering and leaving a patient room and to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, elbow, or sleeve.

Patients in Isolation for Infectious Condition(s): Visitors to patients in isolation must be 14 years of age or older and report to the Nursing Station to receive instructions on the appropriate techniques required for visitation. All visitors must be willing and able to follow infection prevention precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment as indicated. Any visitor failing to follow such precautions may be asked to leave the hospital.

Emergency Room: Visitors to patients in the Emergency Room must be 14 years of age or older. The number of visitors per patient is limited to 1 at a time.

Procedural Areas: Visitors in procedural areas must be 14 years of age or older. A maximum of 2 support persons per patients are allowed in the waiting or recovery area. Friends and families are asked to designate who these 2 support persons will be and only these 2 will be allowed access.

Critical Care Unit (CCU): For patients in the CCU, the Charge Nurse or Nursing Management will determine appropriate visitation guidelines based on the patient’s condition and psychosocial needs. Visitors under the age of 14 years are not allowed in the CCU. Fresh flowers are not allowed in CCU patient rooms.

Labor and Delivery: Labor support and visitation is generally limited to 3 people (one may be a doula). The number of visitors may be further limited to allow for safety and necessary patient care. Siblings under 14 years of age may visit accompanied by an adult other than the patient. The adult must remain present as the caregiver for the child while the child is in attendance and leave with the child as appropriate. After delivery, visitors will be asked to excuse themselves to allow the new parents privacy for bonding and skin-to-skin contact with their baby. One support person can be present in the operating and recovery room for cesarean deliveries. During the triage assessment period, one support person may be present at the bedside.

Mother Baby Unit: 1 banded and 2 additional visitors are permitted in the Mother Baby Unit. Visitors may include siblings of the baby even if they are under 14 years old. Children under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult, other than the patient, at all times.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: In general, 2 parents or banded individuals per patient are permitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Children, including siblings, are not permitted to the visit the NICU. For additional NICU visitation guidelines and procedures, please contact Nursing Management.

Balloons are not allowed in patient rooms due to safety concerns.

Visitor travel through the hospital should be limited to the patient room, waiting rooms, main lobby, Café, Gift Shop, or patio.

Weapons and illegal drugs are prohibited in any Community Memorial facility at all times.

Visitor Entry Process

All visitors must report to the Lobby Information Desk to sign the Visitor’s Log and state the nature of their visit. If authorized to visit, a visitor badge will be issued and the visitor will be given the patient’s room number. Additional information on hospital visitation guidelines will also be provided at this time.
Anyone who wishes to enter the hospital after hours must use the Emergency Department entrance and check in with the Security Officer. If the intent is to visit a patient after designated visiting hours, the Security Officer will call the appropriate Nursing Station to obtain authorization for the visitor.

Authorized Patient Visitors

A patient can designate visitors of their choosing, as long as the patient has decision-making capacity, unless:
- No visitors are allowed.
- The hospital reasonably determines that the presence of a particular visitor would endanger the health or safety of a patient, a member of the hospital or other visitors, or would significantly disrupt the operations of the hospital.
- The patient has indicated to hospital staff that they no longer want this person to visit.
In the event a patient is unable to select visitors due to incapacitation and such patient has not designated a support person, the hospital will have the patient’s wishes considered for purposes of determining who may visit. The hospital may consider the following non-exhaustive forms of proof to establish the appropriateness of a visitor:
- Designated support person
- Advance directive naming an individual
- Shared residence
- Marital/relationship status
- Legal relationships such as parent-child, domestic partner, etc.

Visitation Guidelines by Care Area

Adult Patients

		Isolation Patients
Hospitalized patients	2 visitors at a time Children – immediate family of patient only (child, grandchild). Children <14 years of age must be supervised by adult other than patient. 1 overnight support with nursing approval.	No children<14 years of age. Visitors must report to Nursing Station to receive instructions prior to entering patient room. Visitors must adhere to infection prevention precautions.
Labor and Delivery	3 Labor support/Visitors at a time. 2 support persons and a Doula, if used. Siblings < 14 years age allowed and must be supervised by adult other than patient.	1 support person and a Doula, if used. Doula must leave after delivery.
Mother-Baby	1 banded support person plus 2 other visitors at a time. Siblings < 14 years age allowed and must be supervised by adult other than patient.	1 banded support person.
Emergency Department	1 visitor/support person. No children <14 years of age.	No Visitors.
Outpatient Procedures (Catch Lab, Surgery)	2 support persons at time of service. No children <14 years of age.	No Visitors.

Pediatric Patients

Hospitalized patients	2 parents or guardians.
NICU	2 parents or banded individuals. No children.
Emergency Department	2 parents or guardians.
Outpatient Procedures (Cath Lab, Surgery)	2 parents or guardians.

Definitions

Family/Support Persons: Family refers to any person(s) who play a significant role in a patient’s life. This may include persons not legally related to the patient. Members of the “family” include spouses, domestic partners, and both different-sex and same-sex significant others. “Family” also includes a minor patient’s parents, regardless of the gender of either parent. Solely for the purposes of this policy, the concept of parenthood is to be liberally construed without limitation as encompassing legal parents, foster parents, same-sex parents, stepparents, those serving in loco parents, and other persons operating in caretaker roles.

Options for Alternative Visiting

We encourage virtual visitation and phone calls to connect with loved ones while they are in the hospital. Examples include FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Zoom, WebEx, or other web-based video chatting platforms. Our staff are happy to assist if help is needed.

If you have any questions, please call 805-948-8170. Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

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