The new visiting guidelines for SMH are below. They appreciate your help in emphasizing that all visitors over age two must wear masks (either cloth or surgical masks that we provide at our entry points – bandannas, scarves and buffs are not sufficient). 

Limited Visitation Allowed: Upon entry, all visitors must answer screening questions and will have their temperature checked. Visitors must be 18 or older and must wear a hospital provided or cloth face mask (bandannas, scarves and buffs are not permitted). Visitors who refuse to wear a face mask in the hospital will be asked to leave.

Hospital inpatients (in areas other than Critical Care, Labor & Delivery/Mother-Baby, Pediatrics and NICU) may have 1 visitor per day for a 1-hour visit between the hours of 1 pm and 6 pm. Visitors must stay in the patient's room for the duration of the visit.

Critical Care patients may have 1 visitor per day for a 30-minute visit between the hours of 1 pm and 6pm. Visitors must stay in the patient's room for the duration of the visit.

Emergency Care Center (ER) patients will be allowed to have 1 visitor, who may accompany the patient to the treatment room or wait in the hospital’s main lobby.

Parents visiting Pediatrics or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients may now visit at the same time.

Labor and Delivery patients may have one support person, as well as a certified doula and/or licensed community midwife, in the event the patient is transferred to SMH for care. No other visitors are allowed in Labor-Delivery or the Mother-Baby units. Expectant parents with questions about how this will impact their birth experience may call 941-313-0943 to speak with a clinical nursing leader. (Click here for a Q&A on pregnancy, birth and COVID-19.)

Patients in surgical, procedural and testing areas may each have 1 support person, whose access will be limited to hospital's first floor. Exceptions to this visitor policy may be made in certain extraordinary circumstances, including end-of-life situations. 
Note — Our No Visitor restrictions will remain in effect for patients suspected of having COVID-19; those who have tested COVID-19 positive; patients at Bayside Center for Behavioral Health; and patients at Sarasota Memorial Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Rand Boulevard.