Visitation Guidelines

Updated September 10, 2024

Welcome to Stony Brook University Hospital. We value the importance of having family and visitors with patients during their stay and are committed to creating a safe, compassionate and healing environment for all. Here are some things to remember during your visit.

Stony Brook Medicine uses a Visitor Management System to process visitors. Visitors will be asked to provide photo identification to facilitate the visit. Acceptable forms of photo identification include a driver’s license, passport, green card, government-issued ID and U.S. military ID. Visitor information is retained in the Visitor Management System for one year. To ensure safety and security, please wear your visitor pass at all times in a visible location and don’t forget to check out at the kiosk near the front desk when leaving the building.

Each patient is allowed to have three visitors at a time between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm. Visitors must check out in the main lobby after their visit so that other visitors may switch out throughout the day.  Accommodations will be made for additional visitors of patients in imminent end-of-life situations or who need compassionate care.

Each patient is allowed to have one visitor remain at the bedside after 8 pm. Please obtain an “Overnight Visitor” pass from the Concierge Desk, located in the main lobby of the hospital, at the end of general visitation after 8 pm. When general visiting hours resume, please return to the main lobby of the hospital to check out or check in for the new day at 8 am.

All visitors are encouraged but no longer required to wear a mask throughout all buildings and facilities of Stony Brook Medicine. Visitors of patients who are COVID positive must wear a mask at all times while in the patient room.

For the safety and well-being of yourself and others, please make sure to wash your hands frequently. Please refrain from visiting if you are sick or are not feeling well.

At times, staff may need to ask you to step out of the room for patient privacy, for medical care or in the event of an urgent issue. We will keep you informed of when you will be able to return.

To help ensure a healing environment for all, please be respectful of other patients and visitors in the room and try to keep the noise level low.

Additional Visitor Guidelines

  • Emergency Department: One visitor per patient.
  • CPEP: Visitation can be facilitated in person and/or virtually based on the patient’s and visitors’ individualized needs.
  • Child Behavioral Health: Two pre-established visitors per child per visiting session identified by Nursing. Daily: Noon to 1 pm and 5 to 6 pm.
  • Adult Behavioral Health: Two visitors per session; no switching of visitors. Visitation hours are daily from 2 to 3 pm and 6:30 to 7:30 pm. No visitors under the age of 18 are allowed.
  • Hospice Unit: Unlimited visitation.
  • Outpatient and Procedural Areas: Two visitors.
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): All visitors must wear a surgical mask. A total of two visitors, which includes parents, are permitted between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm and must be accompanied by a parent. Visitors must be ages 18 and older. Two parents/guardians are permitted to stay at the bedside after general visitation is over (between 8 pm and 8 am).
  • Pediatrics/Pediatric Oncology (PONC)/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU):
    • A maximum of three visitors are permitted per patient, which includes siblings, at one time between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm.
    • Parents and guardians have 24-hour access to their child in the hospital.
  • Labor & Delivery: Up to two adult support persons, including a doula if requested, may accompany the patient throughout labor, delivery and the postpartum period, including recovery, until discharge to home.
  • Postpartum: In addition to allowing two visitors between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm, siblings and up to two support persons (to be identified by the patient upon admission) are permitted. Siblings, accompanied by an adult, are permitted between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm. Siblings and the support persons are not included in the two-visitor count.

Patient Deliveries/Gifts
At this time, we are not accepting deliveries for patients. This includes deliveries from local florists, Amazon and UPS to name a few.

The Nuture Gift Shop, located in the main lobby of the hospital offers a delivery service, which includes fresh flower arrangements, balloon bouquets, stuffed animals, puzzle books and simple necessities. The Gift Shop is open weekdays, 7 am to 8 pm, and weekends, 10 am to 6 pm. For inquires or to place an order, please call (631) 444-3133.

When visiting patients, visitors are allowed to bring items, such as Mylar balloons (we do not allow latex balloons) or floral arrangements (we do not allow potted plants). In most areas of the hospital, these items are permissible with the exception of our intensive care units (ICUs) and/or if the patient has a restriction based on their treatment or diagnosis. Before the visit, it is best for visitors to check with unit staff to ensure the patient is permitted to have items brought to their room.

Thank you for your support in helping us to provide a safe and healing environment for everyone.

Last Updated
10/04/2022