What you need to know | veterans affairs

ACUTE CARE TWO VISITORS ARE ALLOWED PER DAY FOR ONE PATIENT BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8 A.M. TO 4 P.M. TWO HOURS FOR EACH VISITOR OR FOUR HOURS WITH TWO VISITORS TOGETHER ARE PERMITTED TO VISIT

WITH RESTRICTIONS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING KEY CIRCUMSTANCES: * End-of-life * Imminent death * Compassionate care/hospice care * Therapeutic needs Visitors must enter through the Emergency

Department and will receive a white wrist band that must be worn at all times inside the medical center.  Visitors may be required to undergo COVID-19 Binax testing at the Emergency

Department and receive a negative result prior to entry. COVID-19 safety measures may change as needed. PLEASE AVOID BRINGING CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS OLD.  Visitors 18 years or older are

allowed for COVID-19 isolation patients. Exceptions for visitors under 18 years of age for COVID-19 isolation patients may be made on a case-by-case basis.  TELEPHONE OR VIDEO CALLS ARE

ENCOURAGED. OUTPATIENT Veterans are allowed to bring family members and/or companions, including children to their outpatient appointments. Family members and/or companions must follow

facility policy such as masking and screening. Masking is exempt for children 2 and younger.  It is encouraged to have the minimum number of visitors for the minimum amount of time in

waiting areas.  INPATIENTS WITH COVID-19 Visitation requests will be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis for patients who are seriously ill and expected to die imminently (i.e.,

expected to pass during current hospitalization). Approved visitors will be required to wear full personal protective equipment.   THE COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER The Community Living Center

(CLC), Center for Rehabilitation and Extended Care (CREC) visitor policy is determined by national VA and VISN21 guidelines. The visitations in the CLC/CREC may be subject to prevailing

COVID status at the time and subject to change to maintain safety of our Veterans, staff and visitors.  Compassionate visits for actively dying Veterans in the CLC/CREC may be made on a

case-by-case basis.  All visits must be prescheduled and coordinated with the CLC/CREC attending interdisciplinary team. The Mather VA Medical Center, Martinez VA Outpatient Center, and our

community-based outpatient clinics have the following inpatient and outpatient visitation policies in place.  * OUTPATIENT: Visitors are not permitted to accompany patients within our

facilities unless essential to medical care and under exceptional circumstances. Please review the outpatient visitor exceptions below.  * INPATIENT: Visitors will be allowed on a

case-by-case basis. See below for exceptions.  OUTPATIENT VISITATION EXCEPTIONS  Visitors are not allowed. All visitors should wait in alternate locations while the patient is in the

facility.    EXCEPTIONS One visitor may be permitted to visit with patients who meet the following criteria:  * For those with physical and/or cognitive conditions, communication barriers,

altered mental status, developmental delays (where the caregiver provides safety)  * When a companion is a key to stabilization.  GUIDELINES FOR ALL VISITOR EXCEPTIONS  Visitors must not:  

* Have symptoms of illness (fever, runny nose, cough, or shortness of breath)  * Have a sick person in their household  * Masks must be worn at all times.    * Maintain at least three feet

of distance from others.  * Use hand sanitizer and wash hands frequently.  * Undergo screening for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure before entry.  * A staff member who detects infractions of

our visitor policy may request that visitors follow proper protocols for masking, personal protective equipment, visiting times, and so on.  If visitors do not adhere to these policies, the

Unit Director, Manager, Charge Nurse, or Supervisor will be alerted.  BRINGING CHILDREN TO VISIT Children of all ages can accompany patients at our medical center. For infection-control and

safety reasons, however, children under the age of 18 are not allowed to visit certain specialty-care units.  All children under the age of 18 must be directly supervised by an adult.

Children's bedside visits are limited to 15 minutes.  Children 12 years and older are allowed to visit in acute care.  Exceptions for visitors under 18 years of age for COVID-19

isolation patients may be made on a case-by-case basis. Children ages two and above must wear a facemask. VISITING CHURCH MEMBERS If you’re a member of the religious community, we encourage

you to visit patients who belong to your church or religious group. However, you’re NOT allowed to do general visitation by going from bed to bed, ward to ward, or unit to unit.　 BRINGING

FOOD You may bring small amounts of candy, fruit, and other food items if the nursing staff says they are appropriate for a patient's diet. You may not bring fresh fruit and flowers to

patients who are receiving critical care, and you can’t eat or drink in those units. WASHING HANDS You must follow hand-hygiene policy guidelines, which require you to practice good hand

hygiene when you enter and exit patient rooms, and at other times as directed by staff. FOLLOWING INFECTION-CONTROL GUIDELINES You must follow guidelines on infection-control signs and

report to the nurses' station for instructions before you enter a patient's room. STAYING HOME IF YOU ARE ILL If you have a communicable disease, you won't be allowed to visit

patients inside the medical center. Refrain from coming to visit if a household member is sick.  PROHIBITED ITEMS You're not allowed to bring weapons, cameras, or other prohibited

items into the medical center, except when you're conducting official business authorized by the Director or their designee. If you have questions about what qualifies as official

business, please contact the facility's Director. GIVING PRIVACY Our staff may ask you to leave the room when they’re caring for patients. If a staff member asks you to leave a

patient's room, you may continue your visit in the day room, waiting area, or any other public area of the facility. VISITING PATIENTS IN RESTRAINTS In general, you won't be

allowed to visit patients who are in restraints. If the treatment team decides that your visit could have a positive effect on the patient, then you may have a supervised visit with the

patient when a staff member removes the restraints. Our staff will document how the patient responds to you and other visitors.　 VISITING PSYCHIATRIC UNITS WITH CHILDREN Children under the

age of 18 may visit patients in psychiatric units with the doctor’s permission. LIMITING YOUR VISIT Our doctors may limit, restrict, or deny visits for the medical well-being of a patient. 

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.  PROHIBITED ITEMS You can't bring weapons, alcohol, or illegal drugs into the building.  Because the VA medical

center is federal property, all visitors and bags may be searched.