Visiting Hours at Carle Foundation Hospital

Visitor policies are in place to help ensure a safe, trusted and comfortable care environment for all patients, visitors and medical staff.

Hospital visiting hours are generally from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., but nursing units have the ability to customize patient visitation based on a patient's condition and individual needs. Please speak with your loved one’s nurse to discuss a customized visitation schedule. Patients may request that visitors not be allowed by speaking with their nurse.

General visitor guidelines: 
  • ​Visitors must be the patient's parent or be 14 years or older.
  • All visitors must be healthy with no symptoms of COVID, cold, flu or other illness.

Note: the following guidelines may change based on patient status.

COVID Positive Patients - We encourage virtual visits but will allow visits with precautions as desired by the patient/family. ​​

Emergency Department – One support person at a time per patient is permitted to visit. May switch out as desired. 
 
Intensive Care Unit – Two support persons at a time during visiting hours, one of which may stay overnight.

Semi-private rooms - One support person at a time, with some exceptions.

Medical-Surgical – One support person at a time during visiting hours, with some exceptions. Support person may stay overnight. 

Labor and Delivery, Postpartum - Visitors must be 18 years of age (or the baby's parent if under 18).

  • Support persons are limited to three designated adults who cannot rotate with other persons to visit the patient.
  • Only one visitor (age 18 or over) may stay overnight.

Pediatrics/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) – Two support persons allowed to be with the patient 24 hours a day.  

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)/Level 3 Nursery – Two support persons allowed to be with the patient 24 hours a day. These persons must be one of the patient's parents or at least 18 years of age.  

Inpatient Rehab – During visiting hours, one support person at a time is allowed to visit the patient. An overnight guest is permitted if aligned with therapy plan. 

End-of-life – Four support persons are allowed at the patient’s bedside 24 hours a day.

  • Support persons may rotate who is visiting the patient, but they must exit the building before new visitors enter.
  • Children with a close relationship to the dying patient may be allowed to enter, but only when accompanied by another adult family member.

Procedures – Two support persons are allowed in the operating room (OR) waiting room, both of which are allowed to visit the patient before their procedure. 

Waiting rooms - Except for the Surgical Services waiting room, all waiting rooms remain closed to visitors.

Clergy may visit during visiting hours. They do not count towards patients’ allotment of visitors at bedside.

Vendor access is limited to those necessary for patient care.