Visiting Hours at Inova Children's Hospital

UPDATED VISITATION POLICY

We are privileged to be able to provide care to your child during these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, and respiratory and flu season. You are a critical part of your child’s health and we encourage you to be present. We ask that you follow these simple guidelines to support a safe healing environment for you, your child, and our team members.

• Wear a face mask. In keeping with Inova’s campus policy and CDC guidance within healthcare settings, regardless of vaccination status, everyone must wear a face mask when our team members are in your child’s room, and at all times outside of the room. Your face mask should be worn correctly to cover both nose and mouth. Expect our team to gently remind you when they enter. Patients, visitors, companions and Designated Support Person (DSP) must wear a surgical/medical-grade face mask at all times. Surgical face masks will be provided if needed. Cloth, vented or gaiter-style masks cannot be worn in an Inova care site. If your mask is soiled or broken, we will provide you with a new one.
• Wash your hands and use the waterless hand gel, A LOT!
  • Times when this is most important: before and after you leave your child’s room, before and after touching your child or anything in their immediate reach, and any time before and after you touch your face, nose or hair. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Two parents/guardians or designated caregiver may be at the bedside 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Parents/Guardians/caregivers are encouraged to stay overnight with your child.
• Please stay home if you are sick or have a pending or positive COVID-19 test.
  • If you cannot be here, you may choose a well caregiver to be here in your place. You are a critical part of your child’s health, and we will stay connected virtually.
  • We follow CDC guidelines if you are sick or have a positive COVID-19 test. To visit safely, you must be fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication AND 10 days or more since symptoms began or a positive COVID-19 test (20 days if you are immunocompromised) AND your symptoms are improving.
• If your child has a positive COVID-19 test result, there are additional steps in order to protect your family and others.
  • We highly recommend only one person at the bedside at a time. Please stay in your child’s room with the door closed.
  • Reduce the frequency of entrance/exit to hospital to once a day, as possible. Please do not go to gift shops, coffee stands, cafeteria, etc. We understand this may be inconvenient and our team is here to help meet your needs.
  • We encourage you to keep your face mask on for the duration of your stay, but you may choose to remove it when team members are not present in the room. Your face mask must be on correctly when team members are in your child’s room.

Note that specific units may have additional safety measures in place. If you have further questions, please talk to your child’s doctor or nurse. We appreciate your trust and support as we provide world-class healthcare for you, your child and our community. Learn more about Inova's COVID-19 safety measures at inova.org/covid19.