Visiting a Patient on the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus

Visiting Hours: About our visitation policy

Inova offers "open visiting hours" to its patients, meaning there are no specific times family and friends can visit. Our patient-centered philosophy states that the patient determines who visits and when they visit. We believe surrounding our patients with the people who matter most is important to the healing process.

When you visit someone in the hospital, remember all patient care areas are "quiet zones." When visiting a patient, remember the roommate's need for rest and privacy. To answer specific visitation questions, please call the nurses' station or call Patient Information:

Inova Fairfax Hospital: 703-776-4001
Inova Women's Hospital: 703-776-6000
Inova Children's Hospital: 703-776-6000

Patient Care Companion (PCC)

Each patient may select a Patient Care Companion (PCC) who is not considered a visitor. The PCC may have around the clock access to the patient.

Children visiting a patient

Children are welcome to visit an inpatient unit, excluding Family Centered Care, if they are healthy and supervised at all times by an adult other than the patient. Some exceptions may apply depending on the patient’s condition.

Visiting a patient during overnight hours

Visitors who arrive between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. will need to register with Security and provide photo identification for a visitor’s badge.

Please note: Overnight guests will not be permitted in semi-private rooms. Exceptions will be considered in certain situations. Please speak to a member of your care team. 

At Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, there are four designated entrances for visitors to use during these overnight hours:

• The following visitor entrances will have video intercom and buzzer access to Security check-in between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.:
  • South Patient Tower lobby – access from Green Garage
  • Inova Heart and Vascular Institute lobby – at main door and Grey Garage
  • Women’s and Children’s hospitals – access from Green Garage and check in at the unit being visited
• Emergency Department entrance – access with Security check-in

Visitor hand hygiene routine

To keep our patients safe and to prevent the spread of infections, we require our staff and visitors to practice good hand hygiene. When visiting, please wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before entering and upon exiting the patient’s room. Additionally, if you are ill please wait until you are well before coming to visit. The health of all patients and visitors is our top priority.

Additional visitation guidelines

Even with an open visitation policy, there are times when visitors may be asked to step out of the room so private care can be provided. In addition, if the patient you are visiting has a roommate, there may be times when the roommate requests privacy and all visitors may need to leave the room. Our #1 priority is care and safety of our patients. Your cooperation during these momentary visitation interruptions is appreciated.

A few visitation guidelines for specific hospital units are outlined below.

ER

• Please speak with a member of your care team for ER-specific visitor information

Labor and Delivery

• Patients may have up to five visitors at a time, including the patient’s significant other

Maternal-Child Nursing/Family Centered Care (FCC) Visiting Information:

• Visitation hours begin at 9 a.m. and end at 9 p.m. After 9 p.m. all visitors, including siblings, must leave
• Patients may have up to 5 visitors (a significant other/support person plus 4 others, including siblings)
• A doula is not considered a visitor
• Mothers are encouraged to take advantage of Serenity Hours. Any loud or disruptive visitors may be asked to leave
• No children under the age of 12, other than siblings of a newborn, may visit due to the immature immune system of newborns
• Siblings are encouraged to visit if they are free of illness and supervised at all times by an adult other than the patient. All siblings must leave by 9 p.m. and are not permitted to sleep in the patient's room overnight
• Special requests or considerations that affect visitation will be addressed

Critical Care

• The healthcare team may have special requests for visitation limitations when the patient is unstable, is having a procedure or requires a limited number of visitors because of the severity of illness

Rehabilitation and Behavioral Health units

• Before visiting a patient in either the Rehabilitation Unit or the Behavioral Health Unit, please check in with the nursing staff. Occasionally, visitation might be limited to avoid excess patient stimulation or to avoid a conflict with a scheduled therapy session.

Oncology

• The healthcare team may have special requests for visitation limitations if the patient is unstable, is having a procedure or necessitates a limited number of visitors due to the severity of illness
• Children under 12 should not visit neutropenic, leukemia or bone marrow transplant patients due to protective isolation requirements.
• Please do not bring fresh flowers or live plants to an Oncology patient’s room