Visitor policy
Please find answers to frequently asked questions about visiting our hospitals, clinics and doctor offices; and how to contact a loved one at a Sharp hospital.
To help protect the health and safety of our patients, all visitors should follow these basic guidelines:
Refrain from visiting if you have a cold, flu-like symptoms or are not feeling well
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer prior to entering a facility
Consider wearing a mask in clinical and nonclinical buildings based on your individual circumstances and risk
Visitation and visitor code of conduct
At Sharp, our mission is to improve the health of those we serve with a commitment to excellence in all that we do. To maintain a healing environment where our patients can receive optimal care, mutual respect is a requirement when visiting a loved one in our hospitals. All support persons and visitors shall interact in a respectful manner with everyone they encounter and refrain from behaviors that are disruptive or pose a threat to the rights or safety of others, as summarized in the Code of Conduct.
While it is safe to come to any Sharp facility for your medical needs, we have implemented the following visitor policies at our hospitals to protect those who are most vulnerable and comply with state-mandated guidelines.
Support people serve as an advocate for the patient and help the patient decrease their anxiety, understand their treatment plan and make decisions about their care.
Support people must be at least 18 years old.
Support people are allowed for all inpatient units and for patients with mental, physical, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and patients with cognitive impairments.
One support person may be allowed to stay 24 hours/day. In semi-private rooms, the support person must be the same gender identity as the room occupants if approved to stay overnight to support patient needs.
If allowed, a second support person may be present, typically 1-2 hours between 8 am to 8 pm.
Children are allowed to visit. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. They are only allowed on units that allow 2 support people per room and must comply with masking and other safety measures.
Support people and visitors must follow infection prevention policies and our Code of Conduct:
Have no symptoms of illness (including respiratory illness)
Understand screening and metal detection may be required prior to entry
Perform hand hygiene upon arrival, in the patient room and when leaving the room
Wear approved face covering as directed
Guidelines for specific patient areas:
Emergency department patients: 1 to 2 designated support people at a time, per day allowed only for patients at end of life; patients with physical, intellectual, and/or developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments; or patients younger than 18. All patients are allowed 1 support person. The support person may not be allowed in the emergency department lobby, semi-private or high-risk areas.
ICU patients: 1 to 2 support people/visitors at a time, per day depending on ability to socially distance (up to 2 support people for a private room and 1 person for a semi-private room)
Surgical patients (outpatient and inpatient): 1 to 2 support people at a time, per day depending on ability to socially distance (up to 2 support people for a private room and 1 person for a semi-private room)
All other inpatient areas: 1 to 2 support people/visitors at a time, per day depending on ability to socially distance (up to 2 support people for a private room and 1 person for a semi-private room)
Sharp Mesa Vista behavioral health: Check with your specific unit about routine visiting hours — special arrangements can be made by your physician to best meet your visiting needs. Patients may also choose a care partner, such as a family member, friend or loved one for guidance and support during their recovery.
Women's services: Visitation hours are 7 am to 10 pm. 3 designated support people may visit at the same time, 24 hours/day.
Maternity patients: Up to 3 support people allowed at a time, per day; a doula may be permitted in addition if prior arrangements have been made and distancing allows. However, a doula may not accompany a patient for scheduled surgeries, including cesarean births, unless the doula is the sole primary support person. If the patient tests positive for COVID-19 or other contagious respiratory illness, the support people must remain in the patient's room but should wear a mask at all times.
NICU: Up to 3 people may be at the bedside at one time.
2 parents or legal guardians with infant identification bands must remain the same throughout the stay.
Visitors (age 18 and older) may rotate in and out and can be changed daily.
Siblings (age 13 and older) and support people must always be accompanied by a banded parent or guardian.
To protect patients' privacy, each Sharp Mary Birch NICU location has different hours during which it is closed to parents and visitors.
Sharp Mary Birch: All visitors will be screened for signs of illness at the reception desk on the first floor. They will be given a visitor sticker each day they visit, which must be worn in a visible place at all times while in the hospital. Visitors are required to discard the sticker at the end of their visit. Please review policies for each unit.
Sharp Grossmont Hospital behavioral health: Visiting hours are 6:30 to 8 pm, Monday through Friday; and 1 to 4 pm and 6:30 to 8 pm on weekends and holidays. Exceptions to visiting hours must be prearranged and approved by a doctor.
Sharp Chula Vista Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU)/EmPATH Unit: Visitors are allowed in the intake area of the unit only. Visitors must be older than 16 years old and are limited to one at a time. Due to shorter stays in this area, visitation hours are open 24 hours a day.
For your health and the health of others, it is highly recommended to wear a mask whenever you are not feeling well and in the presence of others.
We understand it's difficult to be unable to visit family and friends in the hospital, so we've set up a process for loved ones to connect via video chat.
If you would like to speak with a loved one at a Sharp hospital, please call the hospital and ask to be connected to a nurse on the patient's floor. Let the nurse know that you would like to set up a video chat. We are supplying tablets for patients to use for video chats, and our nursing staff will provide instructions on how you can connect.
To connect with a loved one who is a patient in a Sharp hospital, consider sending an e-card. Your personalized e-card will be printed at the hospital and hand-delivered to your friend or family member.
We have implemented the following policies when visiting Sharp Rees-Stealy clinics for the health and safety of all. If you have scheduled an in-person visit:
Contact your provider for guidance before your visit if you have symptoms of measles or respiratory illness.
Masks are highly recommended. A mask that covers the nose and mouth is recommended at all times in Sharp Rees-Stealy medical buildings.
A support person is allowed to accompany a patient to any visit. Additional support people may be considered, if necessary and if our space at our clinic permits. Support person is defined as a family member, caregiver or friend appointed by the patient who is included as a member of the care team and accepts mutually agreed upon patient care responsibilities during and between specific episodes of care. Both parents/guardians may attend appointments of children up to age 18.
For the safety of other patients and our staff, physical distancing from people outside of your immediate household while in our clinics is recommended. Physician discretion should be used and will supersede this guidance.
If you, your support people or visitors have not performed the self-screening process before you arrive, please review the symptom list on the sign posted at the entrance. Do not enter the building until you have performed your self-screening.
Please bring a photo ID, proof of insurance, list of current medications (or medication bottles) and, if seeing a pediatrician, immunization record.
We realize this may not be easy for our patients and that some circumstances will warrant exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your understanding.
Please contact your doctor's office before coming to your appointment to find out if there are any new policies in place.
All patients are encouraged to wear a well-fitted mask. For your health and the health of others, it is highly recommended to wear a mask whenever you are not feeling well and in the presence of others.
Masks are highly recommended for visitors in the following areas: Villa Coronado skilled nursing and subacute units at Sharp Coronado Hospital, transitional care unit at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, and Birch Patrick Convalescent Center at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center.
Visitors should consider wearing a mask at all times while in the presence of patients in indoor settings (i.e., visiting patient rooms, accompanying patients in treatment/exam rooms, etc.).
Masks are highly recommended for visitors and patients in spaces such as small meeting places, lobbies, meeting rooms, especially if people are not at least 6 feet apart.
Masks are highly recommended for visitors and patients during outpatient visits and classes.
Masks are not required in outdoor settings.
Exceptions to the mask policy may be made for patients and support persons who have health conditions that prohibit them from wearing a mask. If a patient or support person indicates that they are unable to wear a mask for medical or psychological reasons, reasonable modifications to the mask policy will be offered.
Sharp has classes, events and seminars both in person and online. Many are free of charge. Please visit the classes and events page or call us at 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277) and select option 2 to learn about our offerings
For expectant parents, we have regularly scheduled walk-through tours of each of our prenatal hospitals. For your convenience, virtual tours are also available for Sharp Mary Birch Center for Women & Newborns Chula Vista, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns Grossmont and Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns San Diego.
We're here to help
Call us at 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.