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Visitor Guidelines in US Children's Hospitals During COVID-19
Ashlee J Vance1,2, Joanne Duy2, Naomi Laventhal3,4
1Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and ashleev@umich.edu.
Hospital Pediatrics
|March 19, 2021
Summary
Visitor policies in children's hospitals varied significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many hospitals restricted parental visitation, highlighting the need for optimized guidelines balancing safety and family-centered care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Healthcare Administration
Background:
- The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated rapid changes in healthcare policies.
- Visitor guidelines in children's hospitals were crucial for patient safety and family support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze visitor guidelines implemented by children's hospitals in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To assess the uniformity and changes in these guidelines over time.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of visitor guidelines from 239 children's hospitals in the U.S. was conducted.
- Guidelines posted online in June 2020 were analyzed for changes related to COVID-19.
- Policies were examined for restrictions, particularly regarding parental presence.
Main Results:
- Of 239 hospitals, 211 had publicly posted visitor guidelines in June 2020.
- Nearly half (49%) of the analyzed guidelines restricted parental visitation to one parent.
- No clear geographical patterns were observed in the guideline variations.
- A significant portion (60%) of hospitals maintained their initial COVID-19 visitor policies by February 2021.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread but varied modifications in children's hospital visitor policies.
- Significant inconsistencies exist in how hospitals updated and implemented visitor guidelines.
- Further research is required to develop optimal policies that ensure public safety while preserving family-centered care principles.
