Upcoming changes to hospital visitor guidelines – effective March 28

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital and Mercy Cedar Rapids are adjusting their visitor guidelines for hospitalized patients. The changes will take effect Mon., March 28.

Hospitalized patients may have four visitors (updated from two) at a time. Exceptions are as follows:

At UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital:

• Emergency Room (ER), Behavioral Health, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic patients are limited to two visitors.
• No visitors under the age of 18 in Behavioral Health.
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients may have two visitors at the bedside at a time. Two other visitors may be in the lounge area.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients may have one birth parent, plus one significant other.
• Birth Care visitors must be consistent throughout stay. Siblings of any age may visit Birth Care patients.
• Patients at end-of-life may have visitors assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• No visitors under the age of 12 (unless extraordinary circumstances and siblings in Birth Care).

At Mercy Medical Center: 

• Emergency Room (ER) and Behavioral Health are limited to two visitors.
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) allows two visitors at the bedside. Two others may be in the family waiting area.
• Hallmar visitors should check with Hallmar staff for visiting guidelines.
• Patients with certain types of infections may have different visitor guidelines, including number of visitors allowed and type of protective equipment required.
• Patients at end-of-life may have visitors assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Visitors must be age 12 or older (18 or older on the Behavioral Health Unit), exceptions for extraordinary circumstances and siblings in the Birthplace/NICU.  

Visitors must be in good health. They must screen in and wear a mask.

St. Luke’s visiting hours are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Detailed hospital visitor polices may be found at unitypoint.org.

Mercy's visiting hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. For more information, visit mercycare.org.