Revisiting Your Hospital's Visitation Policy

Cover of Revisiting Visitation Report

Since 2011, Hospitals have been required by the Medicare Conditions of Participation and The Joint Commission to explain to all patients their right to choose who may visit them during an inpatient stay regardless of whether the visitor is a family member, spouse, domestic partner, or another type of visitor. Hospitals may not deny visitation based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. And hospitals must give deference to the patient’s wishes concerning their representatives.

This resource, co-published with the American Health Lawyers Association, will assist hospitals in revising their visitation policies to satisfy these requirements and to ensure patients and their representatives are best positioned to make health care decisions.

Download Revisiting your Hospital’s Visitation Policy [PDF]

Cover of Revisiting Visitation Report

Since 2011, Hospitals have been required by the Medicare Conditions of Participation and The Joint Commission to explain to all patients their right to choose who may visit them during an inpatient stay regardless of whether the visitor is a family member, spouse, domestic partner, or another type of visitor. Hospitals may not deny visitation based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. And hospitals must give deference to the patient’s wishes concerning their representatives.

This resource, co-published with the American Health Lawyers Association, will assist hospitals in revising their visitation policies to satisfy these requirements and to ensure patients and their representatives are best positioned to make health care decisions.

Download Revisiting your Hospital’s Visitation Policy [PDF]