Family and Visitor Restrictions

Are you planning to visit or accompany a Spectrum Health patient? Follow these simple steps:

  • Make sure the patient has identified you to their care team. For pediatric patients, adult visitors’ names must be on file.

  • Complete health screen upon arrival.

  • Follow Personal Protective Equipment guidelines at all times.

  • Only 2 adult visitors can visit inpatient rooms at Spectrum Health adult and pediatric hospitals. See below for additional guidelines.

  • Visit between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. OB and end-of-life patients may have overnight guests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Spectrum Health is committed to ensuring that you can continue to support your loved ones. To help reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread, we are updating our guidelines for visiting non-COVID-19 patients:

  • Adult hospital inpatient: 2 adult visitors* (must be the same people throughout stay)
  • Adult hospital Labor and Delivery: 2 adult visitors (must be the same people throughout stay)
  • Adult emergency department, urgent care, surgery, radiology and lab: 1 adult visitor only.
  • Pediatric hospital inpatient, emergency department, urgent care, surgery, radiology and lab: 2 adult visitors
  • Physician and medical office: 2 adult visitors (some locations may have tighter access because of space limitations.)
  • Spiritual and faith leaders will be allowed to access Spectrum Health buildings to support patients and families.

* Adults are individuals ages 18 and older. Children and minors will be allowed as visitors only in limited circumstances.

 

Yes, COVID-19 patients may have visitors. The patient or next of kin must identify which two visitors can visit the patient, and it must be the same two individuals for the duration of the patient's stay.

  • Adult COVID-19 patients: Only ONE adult visitor
  • Pediatric COVID-19 patients: TWO adult visitors.

Guests will receive training on appropriate donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment before entering the patient's room.

Yes, two visitors are allowed to be with maternity patients in the hospital for vaginal or c-section deliveries.

The support people must be healthy and will be screened at the entrance. These visitors will be able to come and go from the facility as needed during the maternity patient’s stay.

Virtual Visits for Hospitalized Patients
If your loved one is hospitalized at Spectrum Health, virtual visits create a secure connection complying with health care privacy regulations, during your established visit time. Virtual visits, made possible through creative problem-solving and donated technology, have lifted the spirits of family members separated by illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. This option is offered to the patient’s identified emergency contact, shortly after a patient is admitted. 

Additional Communication Resources

  • We are always here to help. If you are unable to personally connect with your loved one or haven’t received an update from the care team, call 616.391.1774 anytime, 24/7. 
  • This guide offers tips to stay connected to loved ones and their caregivers while they are in the hospital.

We know this is difficult for everyone involved, and we want to be sure there are ways for you to stay connected with your loved ones. Many phones, tablets and computers have free and easy ways to communicate with your friends and family via video, voice or text. We encourage you to use digital resources to connect with your loved ones in the hospital and to assist them in their care. Below are free resources:

Text, Phone and Video Chats

FaceTime
FaceTime is a free app available on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Mac/MacBook) that allows you to have video and audio calls with loved ones who also have Apple devices.

How-To:

  • Instructions on how to download and use FaceTime on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch
  • Instructions on how to download and use FaceTime on your Mac/MacBook

Google Hangouts
Hangouts is a free communication platform that allows you to connect with your loved ones via text chat, phone call or video call on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Hangouts can be accessed through Gmail, YouTube, the Hangouts app in the Apple or Android stores and on the web.

How-To:
Sign into your Google account. If you do not already have an account, you can create one here. Below are instructions on how to start a text chat, phone call or video call:

Skype
Skype is a free communications platform that allows you to connect with your loved ones via text chat, phone call or video call on your smartphone, tablet or computer.

How-To:

Below are instructions on how to start a text chat, phone call or video call:

Zoom
Zoom is a video conferencing platform that allows you to connect with your loved ones via video or audio call on your smartphone, tablet or computer. There are both free and paid plans available.

How-To:

MyHealth Proxy Access
MyHealth is a free, secure portal that provides the most up-to-date medical information available about your or your loved one’s care. Parents, family members, legal representatives and other individuals may also obtain a MyHealth account if they become authorized as a proxy to access a patient's medical record for approved purposes.

  • How To Request Proxy Access

Care Circle
Care Circle is a blog platform that allows you to create a free website to write updates about the health of you or your loved one and share with family and friends.

How-To:

  • Create a Care Circle account
  • Follow the prompts to create a personal website. It should take five minutes or less to create
  • Personalize the website by giving it a name, adding a main photo and adding a cover photo
  • Post an update about the health of you or your loved one
  • Write a message to let your friends and family know how they can support you or your loved one
  • Share the site with friends and family by sending them a link or sharing on social media