Visiting Hours

Visitor Information

Note: The content on this page was last reviewed and updated on Nov. 20, 2023, reflecting the most recent policy changes. This page is updated as needed as policies and procedures change.

At Ellis, we strive to do everything possible to ensure our patients get better quickly and safely. We ask that our visitors honor these guidelines when visiting a loved one or friend. These guidelines are revised in response to the prevalence of influenza and COVID-19 in the community, as well as other public health needs. Thank you for your cooperation.

At Ellis Hospital Medical-Surgical inpatient units and Intensive Care Units (ICU), 2 visitors per patient are permitted at a time with no daily limit, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., 7 days a week.

The latest changes only impact Ellis Hospital Medical-Surgical inpatient units and the ICU. There are no changes for all other areas. See below for more information.   

At Bellevue Woman’s Center, patients are allowed to have two support persons throughout the patient’s stay. The support persons can be the patient’s spouse, partner, sibling, parent, or other persons of their choice, including a doula. As a precaution against the spread of COVID in the community, no visitors will be allowed other than the two support persons.

Patients of Emergent Care services will be permitted two visitors at a time. 

Patients in the Emergency Department waiting room may be allowed one visitor at a time; once patient is in an ED exam room, 2 visitors will be allowed at a time.  

Patients with compassionate care exemptions such as comfort care, hospice, end-of-life, may have two visitors/support persons at a time, while immediate end-of-life exemptions may continue to have up to five visitors per patient at a time, for a limited time. 

COVID patients will continue to be permitted to have one visitor.

Visitors age of 12 or older may be allowed to visit. 

There are compassionate care exceptions for certain patients which include:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients may have one birth parent plus one significant other who must remain in the room for the duration of the visit.
• Pediatric patients/minors under age 18 may have two designated support persons with them, which includes the Emergency Department, inpatient and outpatient settings. 
• Behavioral Health areas of Ellis Hospital (Units C2, C3, B3) will allow two visitors per patient between the hours of 6 pm and 8 pm.
• Patients with disruptive behavior, in which a family member is key to their care, may have one visitor.
• Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays (where caregiver provides safety) may have two visitors. Staff members from group homes are considered an extension of the healthcare team and not a visitor; their presence may fulfill the role of meeting the patient's extended care needs.
• Patients who need a caretaker to be trained for a skill in preparation of home care will be permitted a visitor for a limited education session only.
• Patients who have an outpatient/office appointment at any Ellis Medicine facility which include outpatient offices, radiation therapy, wound care, infusion, laboratory, or radiology, may have two persons with them. Any patient who is accompanied by a child, of which the patient is the only parent/guardian, the child will be allowed entry with the parent. 
  • Persons with a stated or observed disability, including but not limited to physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, and/or intellectual impairment or mental illness are permitted two visitors to assist them during their visit at all times.
• Procedural patients will be allowed 1 visitor pre- and post-surgery for a brief time until the physician meets with the patient and visitor. 
• Pediatric/adolescent surgical patients may have up to two parents present for the same timeframes mentioned.
• End-of-life (Comfort Care/Hospice patients) will be allowed to have two support persons at a time to visit on non-COVID floors.

NO visitor will be allowed entry to visit a patient who has any pending or positive pandemic illness and no visitors under the age of 12 will be permitted entry to the facility.

All other restrictions will remain unchanged during all other hours, including restrictions and compassionate exceptions for end-of-life, and COVID patients.

Ellis Medicine's visitation policies are consistent with other hospitals in the Capital Region.

Please note that this update does not apply to the Ellis Residential & Rehabilitation Center (ERRC). 

Click here to view our process on drop offs for patient belongings and how to speak with your loved ones care provider.

Chaplains and clergy members may visit at any time upon a patient’s request.  Chaplains and clergy members are not considered visitors and are considered support persons for the patient’s care. 

Ellis Residential & Rehabilitation Center, is currently offering visitation and may institute additional visitor guidelines at any time.

Additionally, we continue to limit the number of entrances at our facilities.  Please use the following entrances to access the facility. 

Ellis Hospital- 1101 Nott Street 

Nott Street Garage Entrance: Please use the Nott Street garage for parking and enter the hospital through the main level of the Nott Street Garage.

Main Nott Street Entrance: Those using complimentary valet parking at the Ellis Hospital campus may enter through the main entrance off Nott Street.

Rosa Road Garage Entrance: Please use the Rosa Road garage for parking and enter the hospital through the emergency department main entrance.

Rosa Road Graham Lot: This parking lot entrance is closed to the public but can still be access for our Ellis Works and Radiation Oncology patients.

Medical Arts Building 1201 Nott Street: Please use the main entrance to the medical arts building or the entrance in the basement of the Nott Street parking garage.

McClellan Street Health Center- 600 McClellan Street

Please use the main entrance and park in the S parking lot across from the main entrance circle. 

Cushing Building 624 McClellan Street- Please use the main entrance to the Cushing building. 

Bellevue Women’s Center- 2210 Troy Schenectady Road

Please use the main entrance to the facility, all Breast Care Center patients will continue to use the Breast Care Main Entrance.

Thank you for helping us keep our patients safe.