Visitor Safety

Thank you for entrusting Hartford HealthCare with the care of your loved one — especially as we confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visitors must wear masks

When is visiting allowed?

Our first priority is the health and safety of our patients, guests, colleagues and community. Our visitor guidelines help us protect people and ensure a safe environment. 

Visitor guidelines vary by location:

Hartford HealthCare does not deny, restrict, or otherwise limit visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

As we respond to COVID-19, our hospitals and healthcare facilities consider the following factors before deciding on any visitor policies:

Prevalence: The degree to which the COVID-19 is present in or near a community where a facility is located. This changes and may be different for each location and region.

Distancing: Our ability to ensure that guests, using proper precautions such as face masks and hand sanitizing, are able to be spaced far enough apart to ensure appropriate physical distancing (at least 6 feet apart). Some waiting areas and public spaces are not large enough to make safe distancing possible.

Hospitalizations: The number of patients in the hospital who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

General visitor safety guidelines for when and where visiting is allowed

  • Visitors who have symptoms or are ill may not visit, so we can keep patients and colleagues safe. If you are sick, please call your doctor.
  • It is highly recommended that you wear a facemask at all times when in the hospital. Please try to bring your own facemask; but if you don’t have one, we will provide one for you.
  • Please practice physical distancing — maintaining a distance of 6 feet or more between other individuals.
  • Please wash your hands; hand sanitizing stations and hand-wash are available.
  • Patients with disabilities who receive care at a Hartford HealthCare hospital may have a designated support person present with them to support their disability needs. Learn more

Support persons:

  • Parents of a minor child and a support person for a patient with a disability. Patients with disabilities that may include, but not be limited to, altered mental status, physical, intellectual or cognitive disability, communication barriers or behavioral concerns, who need assistance due to the specifics of their disability, may have one designated support person with them to support their disability related needs. Support person(s) must have no symptoms and screen negative daily for COVID-19. Support persons are not considered “visitors”.
  • Such designated support person may be a family member, personal care assistant, similar disability service provider, or other individual knowledgeable about the management of their care, to physically or emotionally assist them or to ensure effective communication during their stay in such Facility, provided proper precautions are taken to contain the spread of infection.
  • When the period of time any such patient with disabilities will remain longer than one day, such patient or his or her family or caregiver may designate two support people, provided only one support person may be present at a time. This restriction must be explained to the patient and support person in plain terms, upon arrival or, ideally, prior to arrival. Staff should ensure that the patient or his or her family or caregiver fully understands this restriction, allowing the patient to decide who he or she wishes to identify as his or her support person.

Not feeling well? Schedule a Virtual Visit

Virtual Health, also known as telehealth or telemedicine, is a convenient option for many patients and a variety of conditions. Hartford HealthCare is committed to keeping our patients and providers connected now and in the future.

Learn more at hartfordhealthcare.org/virtualhealth