Visitation Policy

Updated June 6, 2023

DCH Health System follows the federal Hospital Conditions of Participation 42 C.F.R. § 482.13(h) and the Alabama Act 2023-24 Visitation Requirements for determining its visitation policy.

Many physician offices in DCH medical office buildings are independent of DCH and have their own visitation rules. If you are coming for a doctor's appointment, please contact the clinic's office prior to arrival to verify their requirements.

Visitation regulations for long-term care facilities differ from hospital requirements. The visitation guidelines for Fayette Medical Center's Long Term Care facility are updated as conditions change and can be found here https://www.dchsystem.com/locations/fayette-medical-center/long-term-care-covid-updates/.

Alabama Act 2023-24 Visitation Requirements does not apply to facilities designated for psychiatric care such as North Harbor Pavilion at Northport Medical Center. The visitation rules for that area are as follows:

North Harbor

Visitation guidelines for other areas are outlined below. The following visitor restriction policy is effective at 7:00 a.m. on June 7, 2023, and will remain in force until further notice.

Visitation Requirements for All Other Areas

Each patient or the patient's designated decision maker can designate a single essential caregiver who is 19 years or older. As long as the staff's ability to provide care is not hindered, the essential caregiver is in addition to the number of normal visitors.

A member of the clergy can visit a patient's room for up to two hours during normal visiting hours or after hours if there is an extenuating circumstances such as an end-of-life event.

Unless otherwise noted, visitation hours are from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. From 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. each day, no new visitors will be allowed except for extenuating circumstances such as end-of-life events. A single essential caregiver, as designated by the patient or the patient's designated decision-maker, is allowed to stay overnight but that person must check in with security and receive a visitor badge when visitation closes at 9 p.m.

Each visitor must check in with security to receive a visitor badge before proceeding to a patient's room.

Patients cannot leave their care area to go outside to visit with others.

Consensual physical contact, such as hand holding or placing a hand on the patient's arm, is allowed between patients and visitors. Intimate physical contact, such as intercourse, is not allowed.

Infectious Disease Patients

End of Life Events for Patients with Infectious Diseases

Non-Infectious Disease Inpatients

ICU Units

RMC / NMC Women Services

Outpatient Cancer Treatment

Emergency Department