Visiting Patients at Massachusetts General Hospital

Please note that our screening and masking policies have changed effective May 12, 2023 following the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Learn more about our mask and screening policies policies

Important Updated Visitor Policy (May 12, 2023)

Dear family and friends of Mass General inpatients: Inpatients are allowed two visitors at a time between the hours of 11:00 am and 8:00 pm. This will help us create a safe environment for our patients, families and staff. 

Unit staff will review any exceptions to restrictions with you at the time of your visit.

Note: There are limited exceptions to these restrictions for parents and other adult caregivers of pediatric patients, support persons of obstetric patients, caregivers of patients with a disability and visitors to patients at the end of life.

Visitors who meet the exception criteria, please: 

• Call the patient care unit before visiting to make sure it is a good time for you to visit
• Use your phone to communicate with and support your loved one
• Ask a nurse about other options we can provide to help you stay in touch 

Our Visitor Policy

We ask all visitors to check their symptoms. Please delay your visit to one of our facilities if: 

1. You develop any of the following symptoms:
   Fever or chills
   Cough, congestion, or runny nose
   Vomiting or diarrhea
   New skin rash (with fever)
   
   OR
   
   
2. You are diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19 within 10 days of your visit.
   
   

Visiting Specific Patient Care Areas

Labor and Delivery

Outpatient

• Children under the age of 18 may attend prenatal appointments as the single visitor permitted by hospital policy
• If a pregnant patient attends a prenatal appointment with an adult support person and a child the adult support person will be asked to stay out of the unit with the child(ren) – i.e. hallway, lobby, car
• A newborn that accompanies a patient for postpartum or lactation visits will not be considered a visitor. A visitor is welcome to attend these visits with the patient to support the mother and infant pair

Inpatient

• Laboring patients are permitted to have one birth partner and one visitor (2 total individuals)
• Postpartum patients are welcome to have one birth partner and two visitors (3 total individuals)
• While the birth partner may stay around the clock to support the postpartum patient, the visitors are welcome during visiting hours (11 a.m.– 8 p.m.)
• Children under the age of 18 may visit as one of the two visitors permitted per day for laboring, and postpartum patients. 
• Visitors under the age of 18 may visit only during regular hospital visiting hours: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Procedural Areas

• Some procedural areas may be able to accommodate a small number of escorts in their waiting areas if social/physical distancing can be maintained
• One or both parents or other adult caregiver may accompany a pediatric patient to all procedural areas

Ambulatory Practices

• One visitor/support person per patient will now be permitted in ambulatory departments; under extraordinary circumstances, facilities may need to restrict visitation
  
  • If there are any concerns with a support person for a patient with disabilities, please contact the MGB Office of General Counsel (OGC)
• Exceptions to visitor policy may be granted by ambulatory practice leadership for:
  • Patients who require help with mobility or support
  • Law enforcement officers working in an official capacity
  • Pediatric patients (patients cared for by a pediatric provider or in a pediatric area) may be accompanied by one or both parents or adult caregiver
  • Patients with disabilities
  • Patients receiving end-of-life care
• Patients with Special Needs / Disabilities
  • Documented in Special Needs Tab in Epic at patient level
  • Support person flag per encounter is no longer needed as long as Special Needs Tab is complete

Emergency Department

• One visitor/support person per patient will be permitted in emergency departments; under extraordinary circumstances, facilities may need to restrict visitation
• Exceptions to visitor policy may be granted by nursing/physician leadership or their designee for:
  • Patients who require help with mobility or support
  • Law enforcement officers working in an official capacity
  • Birth partners of obstetric patients
  • Patients with disabilities 
  • Patients receiving end-of-life care
  • Pediatric patients (patients <22 years old) may be accompanied by one or both parents or guardians

Information for Visitors

Before visiting a patient, please speak with the patient's nurse or clinician to determine the best time to visit or to discuss the number of visitors or any unusual visiting circumstances that might require special arrangements.

Visitation privileges will not be limited or denied based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Visitors may include a spouse, adult child, parent, close relative, friend, domestic partner, and both different-sex and same-sex significant others. Same-sex parents shall have the same access as different-sex parents for their minor children.

Information Desks

Information desks are located throughout the hospital buildings, near many of the major entrances. Desk staff members are knowledgeable and can help answer any questions. 

Patient Information/Patient Privacy

Patient privacy is important to Mass General. Patients have the right to limit access and confidentiality. Patients can indicate to the admissions or nursing staff that no information is to be shared about their condition and/or that they wish not to have visitors. If such a request has been made, it will be communicated to you. Learn more about our commitment to patient privacy.

Patient Status Inquiries and Telephone Calls

Patient information is available by calling 617-726-2070. Your call will be forwarded to the patient's unit, where you can speak directly to the patient's nurse or clinician.

For patients in Intensive Care Units, only questions from immediate family members can be answered.

Waiting Room for Families

A family waiting room is available on the second floor of the Yawkey Building (Room 2E-2700). A small consultation room is available for family members to speak privately with a doctor. The room is open 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. After 5:00 pm (Monday through Friday), families can wait in the Blum Center, located on the first floor of the White Building (Room 110).

The phone number for the Family Waiting Area is 617-726-2078.

Cafeterias

There are several cafeterias located within the hospital. Please view one of the maps to find the closest cafeteria or ask at the information desk.

Contact a Patient or Employee

Send mail to a patient or employee at Mass General by using one of the following addresses.
Please do not send urgent or confidential information.

To Write to a Patient:

Attention: Patient Name
Building and room number
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114-2696

To Write to an Employee:

Attention: Employee Name
Mail Code, Building and room number
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114-2696