Temporary Family and Visitor Restrictions

As we work to help keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, we slowly have been increasing family/visitor presence in our hospitals and care sites.
  
 

Spectrum Health Patient/Location

Adult Family Member/Adult Guest Presence Level

Adult patients at Spectrum Health Hospitals

Two adult family members/adult guests at a time per patient. These must be the same two people for the patient’s entire hospital stay.

If the patient is in a double/semi-private room, the two visitors must visit one at a time due to social distancing and space limitations. These must be the same two people for the patient’s entire hospital stay.

Surgery patients: Due to limited space in our surgical waiting rooms, we are limiting visitors/guests to one adult per surgery patient.

Emergency department patients: Due to limited space, patients in our emergency department are limited to one adult guest per patient.

COVID-19 patients may not have in-person visitors; virtual visits only.

Adult patients at Spectrum Health physician offices, labs, radiology and surgery centers

One adult family member/adult guest per patient.

Pediatric Patients (Under 21 years old) at Spectrum Health

For pediatric hospital patients: Two adult family members (parent or guardian or their designee only) per patient visit/stay.

For pediatric outpatient services, physician offices and surgery: Two family members/guests per patient visit.

*** Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic and Infusion Center patients: only one adult in addition to the patient receiving care is allowed.

Rehab and Nursing Centers 

Visitor restrictions remain in effect based on location. Family members and/or guardians should contact their facility administrator to discuss visitor options. 

Visitors will be encouraged to follow guidelines to help increase their safety and limit potential exposures to COVID-19 while in the hospital, such as wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and washing their hands frequently. All visitors will be asked health screening questions and have their temperature checked upon arrival. Visitors with COVID-19 symptoms or a fever will be asked to visit at another time.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, pediatric patients are a special circumstance and two parental/guardian visitors are allowed to be with them in the hospital. This includes the pediatric ICUs and neonatal ICU at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Visitors must be healthy and will be screened at the entrance.

Yes, maternity patients in the hospital are a special circumstance and one visitor is allowed to be with them in the hospital for vaginal or c-section deliveries. 

The one support person must be healthy and will be screened at the entrance. Once inside the hospital, the support person can not leave, so bring whatever is needed when first entering. This includes clothes and toiletries for mother and support person for 2 to 3 days, as well as items for the new baby including clothes, diapers, car seat, etc. Asking your support person to stay in the hospital with you helps keep mothers, new babies and our team members healthy.

Virtual Visits for Intensive Care Unit Patients
If your loved one is in the intensive care unit 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