Visitor Guidance

Visiting hours

Visiting hours at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) are 11 am to 7 pm daily.

If you need assistance accessing our facilities, please approach the main hospital entrance and push the emergency service button. This button is available for all urgent and non-urgent mobility assistance needs.

Masks

Masks are optional for patients, visitors, and staff at SVMC. If you have respiratory symptoms, please wear a mask to help limit the spread of respiratory viruses and bacteria. Masks can be provided by hospital staff, upon request.

Departmental visitor restrictions

The numbers of visitors allowed varies by department and the age and condition of the patient.

  • Two visitors allowed at a time to adult inpatients, including those using the Emergency Department, East and West Wings, and the ICU.
  • Adult outpatients—including all patients visiting practices in the Medical Office Building, the Operating Room, Endoscopy, Medical Infusion, Imaging, and Lab—may have one visitor with them. This includes prenatal patients.
  • Pediatric patients—both inpatients and outpatients, regardless of area—may have up to two visitors per day.
  • Adult patients birthing with Women’s and Children’s Services may have two birth partners plus two visitors at a time.
  • Patients at the end of life may have four visitors, who must remain in the patient room at all times. COVID-positive patients at the end of life may have up to two visitors at a time.
  • The health system recommends minors visit the hospital or practices only to receive care, if possible. All minors visiting inpatient units need prior approval from the clinical team. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

View and download a visual summary of the visitor policy (PDF)

Virtual visits

We realize that not all family and friends will be able to visit inpatients due to distance. This is why we have available a virtual   option for these instances. Please follow these steps to have a virtual visit:

  1. Call 802-442-6361, and at the voice prompt, say, "Virtual Visit."

    The automated system will ask you to “Please hold while your call is transferred to an operator."

  2. When your call is answered, tell the operator the patient's name and state that you are requesting a virtual visit.
  3. You will have a short wait while the nurse sets up the iPad with the patient and starts the Webex meeting.
  4. Click the SVMC Webex link to open Webex on your device. You will not need to download the application for your virtual visit.
  5. Once the Webex meeting is created, the nurse will let you know the number to enter into the meeting number information field.

Other visitor requirements

  • Everyone—patients, caregivers, and visitors—is required to stop at the check-in desk located at entrances in the hospital. All non-staff persons entering an SVMC building will be given a sticker marked with the date and department they are visiting and are asked to keep the sticker visible and remain in the area of service for the entire time they are in the building.
  • Patient visitors are also required to give personal contact information, for purposes of required contact tracing, at time of check in.
  • Those entering the Medical Office Building will be screened once they reach the practice they are visiting.
  • Patients who are symptomatic or have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be provided with a medical-grade face mask. Caregivers and visitors with symptoms of any kind are not permitted.
  • Everyone is expected to sanitize their hands upon entry and exit from the building, units, and patient rooms.
  • Both inpatients and outpatients who would benefit from additional support during a visit or stay should request the use of technology to bring important family and friends virtually into exam and hospital rooms.

Accommodations

Hampton Inn offers 15% off their best available rate for family members of current hospital patients.

Hampton Inn Bennington
51 Hannaford Square
Bennington, Vermont, 05201, USA
802-440-9862
Website

Workplace violence policy

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center does not tolerate abusive or violent behavior, including:

  • Threatening language
  • Foul language
  • Sexual comments
  • Physical violence
  • Inappropriate touching

These behaviors compromise the safety of patients, visitors, and staff and will result in removal from this facility and/or prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.