Visitor Screening
All care partners will be screened and must be 10 days after symptom onset of COVID-19 as well as not being exposed to others with COVID-19 infection during the prior 10 days.
Upon arrival, all visitors must wear a mask provided by the facility, complete a temperature screening and sanitize hands. If you have positive symptoms, you will not be allowed into the building. Please contact your primary care doctor or an urgent care center for a testing referral.
If a care partner has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the prior 10 days, they must have been diagnosed at least 5 days prior to visiting the facility and not have symptoms of COVID-19 infection. All visitors must be able to wear a face mask at all times.
Visitors Check-in and Out
For the continued safety of patients, care partners and staff during the coronavirus pandemic, all Baystate Health hospitals have implemented a visitor check-in log as part of our visitation policy.
- Care partners to all hospitals will be asked to provide their full name, phone number and picture ID to be recorded in the log, as well as the name of the patient they are visiting.
- Care partners who do not have a photo ID will still be asked to provide the above information. No care partner information will be shared with any immigration institutions.
- All care partners will be screened and must be free of any COVID-19 symptoms as well as not being exposed to others with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the prior 10 days
- Each care partner will have their temperature checked with an infrared no-touch thermometer and will be asked a series of questions about symptoms and exposure.
- Healthcare providers will advise any ill-appearing care partner that they must leave the hospital.
Visitors coming to Baystate Medical Center should allow extra time for our enhanced check-in process, especially during peak visiting hours (noon – 1 pm).
Masks are required
To best protect you and our caregivers, the Commonwealth's mask order now requires all patients and visitors to wear masks at all times. Patients and visitors must wear masks issued by Baystate Health (like the ones currently distributed at our entrances) rather than a mask brought from home. There is no charge for the masks and they will be available at the COVID-19 screening tables at our hospital entrances.
In addition to providing masks, we will continue to take temperatures and ask screening questions. If you have been exposed to others with COVID-19 anytime in the 5 days before you plan to visit, please postpone your visit. For everyone’s safety, visitors with any COVID-19 symptom or exposure within the past 5 days are not permitted into the hospital.
Learn more about COVID-19 safety.
Baystate Medical Center and Baystate Children's Hospital
Free parking 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Valet services are at the following locations:
- Daly lobby: 8 am – 4:30 pm l Monday - Friday
- Wesson lobby: 8 am – 4:30 pm l Monday - Friday
- Chestnut Building: 7:30 am – 3:30 pm l Monday - Friday
- Emergency Department: 9 am – 12 am l Monday – Friday
Baystate Franklin Medical Center
Parking is available at the main entrance and ground floor entrance for patients and visitors.
Baystate Wing Hospital and Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center
Parking is available at the main entrance and at 1st floor entrance for patients and visitors.
Baystate Medical Center and Baystate Children's Hospital
- Daly or Wesson entrances from 12 noon – 8 pm daily
- Chestnut Building for patients only – Main entrance under the canopy from 5 am – 7 pm daily
Baystate Franklin Medical Center
- Baystate Franklin Medical Center main entrance 164 High Street
- Baystate Franklin Medical Center ground floor entrance on Sanderson Street.
Baystate Noble Hospital
- Main Lobby and Surgical Services entrances only.
Baystate Wing Hospital and Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center
- Baystate Wing Hospital Main Entrance (ground floor)
- Baystate Wing Hospital Day Surgery Entrance (first floor)
- Baystate Wing Hospital Emergency Room Entrance (ground floor)
- Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center main entrance
Visitors who do not follow these guidelines will be asked to leave the building.
When you arrive
If another person is visiting the patient you will be visiting, you must wait for that visitor to leave the building before you enter. Once that visitor has left, you may enter the lobby and proceed with the screening process. You will be asked to provide check-in information and photo ID. We will provide you with a mask and hand sanitizer and check your temperature. If you have positive COVID-19 symptoms, you will not be allowed into the building.
After screening, start at the information desk
After being screened, washing hands and placing on a mask, the visitors will report to the main information desk where they entered for help with patient room location, wayfinding, and general information.
Travel directly to the patient's room
Visitors will then travel directly to the patient’s room and wash their hands (or use hospital hand sanitizer) prior to entering the patient’s room and when leaving. Visitors must remain in the patient’s room the entire time that they are visiting, and must always stay at least 6 feet away from the patient (social distance), and always have their mask on properly. No eating or drinking in the patient’s room.
Follow guidelines for public spaces within hospitals
- Visitors are permitted access to food only in public retail spaces and dining rooms. Please follow occupancy guidelines for table and chairs for eating in the dining rooms and retail space seating.
- Visitors are permitted to use public bathrooms.
Food
Food brought from home must be eaten at the time of delivery as it cannot be refrigerated or microwaved.
Flowers
Yes, outside flowers are allowed including from home or family.
Exceptions: Flowers are not allowed for patients in ICU or vulnerable to infection.
Baystate Medical Practices & Outpatient Services
Our outpatient practices are currently in the red tiers, which means 1 care partner allowed provided enough space for distancing unless an exception applies. 1 parents/care partners are allowed at a time with pediatric patients.
Please see the policy (linked in the list above) for the location you'll be visiting for more details.
Prenatal/Ultrasound Appointments
- 1 support person/care partner is allowed provided there is enough space for distancing.
Labor and Delivery
- Up to 2 designated care partners (visitors) in room during delivery and up to 2 hours immediately after delivery.
- 1 care partner may stay for the duration of the hospital stay an come an go throughout the day
- 1 additional care partner may visit during visitation hours. Both care partners can be at the bedside together.
- Children between the ages of 5-18 may visit if accompanied by an adult, one at a time.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Continuing Care Nursery (CCN)
- Both parents may visit the newborn together wearing masks.
We will provide you with one clear plastic, 2-gallon, zip-top bag when you enter the building. All items must fit into one bag, as only one bag is permitted per patient. Important personal items include, but are not limited to:
- Eye Glasses
- Dentures
- Hearing Aids
- Cell Phone
Food and drinks from outside are not allowed, with some exceptions when necessary.
Baystate Health will not be responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
See our what to expect when staying at the hospital, including bringing items from outside, support and amenities, and leaving the hospital.