Gloversville, NY —Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home has implemented temporary visitation guidelines for inpatient areas in response to increased seasonal respiratory illnesses. These measures are intended to help reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses and protect the health and safety of patients, visitors, and healthcare professionals.

Under the updated guidelines, general inpatient visiting hours are 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitors are asked not to visit if they are experiencing cold, flu-like, or respiratory symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath. To further reduce risk, children under the age of 17 are not permitted to visit inpatient areas, and all visitors must enter through the hospital’s main entrance.

On the Medical-Surgical Unit, visitation is limited to two visitors at a patient’s bedside at a time. Visitors are required to practice proper hand hygiene upon entering and leaving patient rooms and to use hand sanitizer stations located throughout the facility. For patients on enhanced droplet or contact precautions, visitors must speak with a nurse and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

The hospital’s care team may make limited exceptions to these guidelines on a case-by-case basis, including circumstances such as end-of-life care.

Additional department-specific visitation guidelines include:

Emergency Department: Limited to one visitor at a time over the age of 17. Parents of minor patients may both visit. If a patient is on enhanced respiratory precautions, one visitor is permitted and must remain in the room at all times while complying with PPE requirements.

Special Care Unit (SCU): Visiting hours are 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visits are typically limited to 15 minutes and immediate family, with a maximum of two visitors at a time. No children under 10 are permitted.

Birthing Center (Post-Delivery): Visiting hours are 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitors must be 18 or older unless they are a sibling of the newborn.

Labor and Delivery: Two designated support persons, including a doula if desired, may be present throughout labor and delivery and may not rotate.

Postpartum: One designated support person may remain with the patient throughout the hospital stay. Two additional visitors may be present at a time. Siblings may visit for up to one hour per day during posted visiting hours.

Antepartum Testing: One support person may accompany the patient.

Nathan Littauer Hospital appreciates the community’s cooperation as these temporary precautions are put in place to ensure a safe healing environment for all.

About Nathan Littauer

Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is a full-service, 74-bed acute care hospital with an 84-bed skilled nursing home. Since 1894, Nathan Littauer has provided safe, high-quality health and wellness services with a focus on securing appropriate new technologies for people residing in Upstate New York. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve.  More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org or calling (518) 725-8621