Due to concerns about the increase of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in our communities, we are suspending patient visitation effective immediately (November 24, 2020)

All visitation within Mather Hospital including the Emergency Department and Transitional Care Unit (TCU) is suspended with the exception of:

  1. Patients for whom a support person has been determined to be essential (medically necessary) to the care of the patient including patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and patients with cognitive impairments, including dementia.
  2. Patients in imminent end-of-life situations may be permitted one family member and/or legal representative at a time, as a support person at the bedside. The Department of Health defines imminent end-of-life situations as a patient who is actively dying, where death is anticipated within less than 24 hours.
  3. Pediatric visiting in Emergency Department is limited to one parent/guardian.
  4. Adolescent Psychiatry visiting is limited to one parent/guardian between 3:30pm – 4:30pm and 6:30pm – 7:30pm.

Those visitors who meet these exceptions listed previously, must also meet the following:

  • Visitors must be 18 years of age or older, have not been potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19, and be screened for symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fever, etc.).
  •  Visitors are to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), i.e. mask, gown, and gloves while in the patient area/room.
  •  Failure to agree to wear appropriate PPE will not be permitted.
  •  Visitors will be asked to stay in the patient room throughout the visit. When leaving the area/room visitors will remove PPE, perform hand hygiene, and exit the hospital.
  •  Visitors should not be present in the room/area during aerosol-generating procedures.

We encourage visitors to remain closely connected to their loved ones through virtual visual means such as Skype or FaceTime.

Please also refer to New York State travel advisory requirements here.  Visitors must also adhere to these criteria.

Thank you for your efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Mather Hospital strives to make all hospital stays as pleasant as possible for our patients and we understand how therapeutic visits from family and friends can be. In addition to our general unit visiting hours, when no other health issue prevents it, you may be able to make special arrangements through your nurse.

Patients have the right to choose who can and cannot visit, and may select their priority support persons if visitation is restricted. Priority visitors may include any support persons chosen by the patient.

Mather Hospital is a smoke-free, tobacco-free campus.

For our patients’ benefit, we ask that you respect the following guidelines:

  • Please do not come to the hospital if you have a cold, a rash, a fever, the flu or other communicable disease.
  • All visitors should wash their hands before entering and after leaving a patient’s room.
  • Visitors are limited to two per patient at one time. Passes are available at the front desk.
  • Please set your cell phone or other electronic device to vibrate or turn it off while in the hospital.
  • The use of any camera, audio or video recording is prohibited.
  • No latex balloons are allowed anywhere in the hospital as many people are severely allergic to latex. Please check with individual unit nurses for any restrictions on flowers, outside food or wearing perfumes or colognes.
  • Smoking is prohibited on the Mather Hospital campus.

Please see our Visitor Code of Conduct.