Hospital Visitation Policies During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Hillary S Weiner; Janice I Firn; Norman D Hogikyan; Reshma Jagsi; Naomi Laventhal; Adam Marks; Lauren Smith; Kayte Spector-Bagdady; Christian J Vercler; Andrew G Shuman

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.09.007

Hospital Visitation Policies During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Am J Infect Control. 2021 Apr;49(4):516-520. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.09.007. Epub 2020 Sep 28.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
² University of Michigan Medical School; Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School; Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ University of Michigan Medical School; Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School; Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ University of Michigan Medical School; Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ University of Michigan Medical School; Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School; Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ University of Michigan Medical School; Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ University of Michigan Medical School; Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School; Department of Pathology. University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ University of Michigan Medical School; Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ University of Michigan Medical School; Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School; Section of Plastic Surgery; Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
¹⁰ University of Michigan Medical School; Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School; Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

A significant change for patients and families during SARs-CoV-2 has been the restriction of visitors for hospitalized patients. We analyzed SARs-CoV-2 hospital visitation policies and found widespread variation in both development and content. This variation has the potential to engender inequity in access. We propose guidance for hospital visitation policies for this pandemic to protect, respect, and support patients, visitors, clinicians, and communities.

Keywords: Ethics; Health and Hospital Policy; Patient Autonomy and Rights; Public Health; SARs-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

COVID-19 / epidemiology*
Family
Hospital Administration*
Humans
Organizational Policy*
SARS-CoV-2*
Visitors to Patients*