Visitor Information
This page will provide you with up-to-date visitor information, including COVID-19 related restrictions.
We recognize how important it is for patients to be surrounded by family and friends while they’re in the hospital. In order to keep everyone safe, Mackenzie Health currently has some visitor restrictions in place. We’re doing everything we can to ensure that families feel supported and connected while their loved ones are in the hospital.
While masks may no longer be required in other indoor public settings, patients and their families trust us to care for them when they are at their most vulnerable and we must ensure that patients receive care in a safe environment. That’s why masks will continue to be required for everyone at all Mackenzie Health sites. At this time, all patients and visitors will continue to be required to wear a hospital-provided mask in all clinical and common areas of the hospital. Thank you for protecting our patients and staff by wearing a mask.
We’re making staff available to help patients get to their appointments and to support patients who have language barriers or require physical assistance while in the hospital. Our care teams are also providing updates to designated family caregivers to make sure they remain involved in their loved one’s care.
To help patients and families stay connected, we have provided dedicated resources to our care teams to support virtual calls, including on weekends.
We’ve also made all TV, internet and phone access free on the tablets available at each bedside. Free WI-FI is also available so patients can video chat with their loved ones from their own devices.
We have also implemented video chat functionality to help patients and their loved ones stay connected. On most units, video calls are available through each patient’s bedside tablet. Instructions on how to initiate a call are available to patients.
Some video calls may be completed through Zoom. For instructions on how to join a Zoom meeting or how to download the application on your device, please see here:
Here are some additional resources to help families and caregivers support patients as they’re receiving care.
The safety of our patients, families, staff, physicians, and volunteers is our top priority. We also recognize the integral role and impact that loved ones have in providing support to patients.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we will adjust our guidelines for visitor access to Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and our community-based locations to keep everyone safe.
Effective June 16, 2022, visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Mackenzie Health permits all patients to have an unlimited number of visitors between visiting hours, though only two visitors will be permitted in a patient room at the same time. We value and appreciate the very important role visitors play in the lives of our patients.
Effective June 16, 2022, visitors to Mackenzie Health are no longer required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, though vaccination is still highly encouraged to provide the best possible protection against COVID-19.
For full details around our visitor guidelines please see the chart below.
| Patient Category | Visitor Guidelines |
|---|---|
| A patient who is considered end-of-life | 24-hour access to family or people of importance; care team may offer scheduled access to accommodate all visitors if space is limited. |
| A patient who is considered palliative | Daily access to visitors; one (1) visitor will be accommodated overnight. |
| A patient who is having a baby | 24-hour access. Only one (1) visitor will be accommodated overnight. |
| A patient who is in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) | 24-hour access. Two (2) visitors at bedside and one must be a parent. Only one (1) visitor will be accommodated overnight. No siblings will be accommodated at this time. |
| A patient who is under the age of 18 years of age and those who are less than one (1) years of age | Two (2) visitors at clinic appointment; 24-hour access. Only one (1) visitor will be accommodated overnight. |
| A patient who has a significant developmental or intellectual disability | 24-hour access. One (1) visitor will be accommodated overnight. |
| A patient who is in the Emergency Department | One (1) visitor or support person; 24-hour access. *Please note: if the patient is admitted, visiting guidelines will adjust according to the inpatient unit. |
| A patient requiring caregiver to support hospital workflow (outpatients) | One (1) visitor or support person to accompany patient. |
We recognize that support from family and friends is an important part of a patient's healing process and will make exceptions on compassionate grounds for some patients. Please contact the care team to discuss the possibility of making these arrangements.
Visitor Access
At Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, patients and visitors can enter through any of the hospital entrances. The Emergency Department entrance is open 24/7. Visitors of long-term care, complex continuing care and palliative care patients should enter through the A-wing entrance.
At Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, access to the hospital is through the Main Entrance at the south side of the building, through the west side of the hospital, through the Birthing Entrance or through the parklink connected to the parkade. The Magna Emergency entrance is also open 24/7.
When visiting the hospital, visitors will be asked to screen themselves for symptoms and those with symptoms or exposure to COVID-19 are asked not to enter the hospital and to only visit their loved ones when they’re symptom-free
While masks may no longer be required in other indoor public settings, patients and their families trust us to care for them when they are at their most vulnerable and we must ensure that patients receive care in a safe environment. That’s why masks will continue to be required for everyone at all Mackenzie Health sites. At this time, all patients and visitors will continue to be required to wear a hospital-provided mask in all clinical and common areas of the hospital. Thank you for protecting our patients and staff by wearing a mask.
Visitors will also be asked to remove any personal protective equipment brought from home, including a gown, gloves or mask. If you are wearing an N95 or KN95 mask, you can continue to wear it under your hospital provided mask in addition to practicing proper hand hygiene and physical distancing etiquette while in the hospital.
Our staff, physicians and volunteers are working hard to keep the community safe. We appreciate the community's co-operation in keeping them safe as they continue to do this important work.
For more information, please consult our Frequently Asked Questions for Patients, Families and Visitors.