Visitation & Accompaniment Policy

At Cape Cod Healthcare, the safety of our patients, staff and volunteers is our highest priority. Effective May 11, 2023, our patient visitation guidelines have been updated in alignment with state guidance as follows:

• Visitors will be allowed between the hours of 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. for inpatient visitation (non-COVID patients) without restriction.
• All visitors will be required to self-screen for respiratory illness per hospital policy.
• Although Cape Cod Healthcare will no longer require patients, visitors or staff to wear face coverings while in our facilities, there are situations in which masks will still need to be worn per infection control practices in place prior to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Please visit our Masking & Self-Screening Policy to learn more.

Exceptions:

• Critical Care: We will continue to call the critical care unit(s) from the front desk to ensure visitation is appropriate, but there will be no restriction to the number of visitors.
• Emergency Department (ED): We will continue to allow up to two visitors in the ED at the discretion of the care team.
• COVID-19 end of life: Two visitors at a time will be allowed. The visitor(s) will be required to wear a mask.
• Accompaniment: As always, is those situations where it is of benefit to either the patient or the provider for the patient to have either a caregiver or family member accompany them to the facility, the visitor (one only) will be allowed.

There will be NO visitors for COVID-19 positive patients outside of End-of-Life exception above.

Any deviation from this policy must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and approved by the Administrator on call prior to implementation.

Additional Hospital Visiting Policies & Guidelines

Our goal is to maintain a safe, comfortable and quiet atmosphere for our patients. We ask that visitors abide by the following policies while visiting the hospital.

Visiting policies

• Please do not visit if you are ill.
• Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital are smoke-free facilities.
• Please do not wear perfumes or colognes.
• Latex balloons or products are not allowed (mylar balloons are permitted).
• Please speak in quiet tones and be aware that your voice carries. Sound is magnified to someone who is ill.
• Plan visits so that there are only two visitors in a patient room at one time.
• Check at the Nurse's Station prior to entering a patient room.
• Visitors may be asked to leave the room during tests or treatments or when the doctor or nurse needs to see the patient.
• Obey all signs which may be posted on the door of a patient’s room.
• Use cell phones only in designated areas.

Hospital services

Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital offer a wide range of services to make your stay a comfortable, healing experience. If you or your family members and friends require services not listed, please inform your nurse.

For visitor information including parking, cafeteria and more, please choose your location below:

• Cape Cod Hospital
• Falmouth Hospital

Best practices for infection prevention

Cape Cod Healthcare is committed to providing a comprehensive infection prevention and control program for all CCHC entities, in collaboration with the local board of health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. We focus on surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare associated infections, in CCHC patients, visitors, licensed independent practitioners, employees, volunteers and students.