Care Partner Policy (Updated May 15, 2025)

• Most patients are no longer limited to two (2) Care Partners.
  *Department Specific Exceptions Noted Below
• Only one (1) Care Partner may stay overnight. Care Partners staying overnight should be 18 or older.
• Minors are allowed to visit Piedmont Cartersville, but they must be supervised at all times by an adult other than the patient.
• The designated Piedmont Cartersville executive must approve any exceptions to the Care Partner Policy.

Emergency Services Visitation

At Piedmont Cartersville, two (2) Care Partners will be allowed for non-COVID Emergency Department patients. The visitor should remain the same person/persons for the duration of the visit.

Perinatal Services Visitation

Labor & Delivery patients are allowed up to four (4) support people (including doulas), of the mother's choice, 24/7, for the duration of the hospital stay. No substitutions are allowed. In Labor & Delivery and the Family Care Center, any child under age 12 who is visiting must be a sibling of the newborn.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Visitation

The NICU will be open for visitation 24 hours a day. However, during two (2) periods (6:30-8:30 am and 6:30-8:30 pm), visitation will be limited to one parent to allow medical staff to perform necessary treatments. In critical situations, only one (1) visitor may stay while others wait in the waiting room. Visitors are limited to the mother and a designated support person, both identified by wristbands. They can list up to four (4) additional visitors, who must be accompanied by the mother or designated support person unless arranged otherwise. Only two (2) visitors are allowed at a time, one of whom must have a wristband. For high-acuity neonates, visitation may be restricted to parents only for brief periods.

Minors, including siblings, are not allowed to visit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Outpatient Testing Vistation

Surgical and procedural areas will continue to permit two (2) Care Partners per patient. Visitors must enter and exit the facility at the outpatient area located at the back of the hospital. The outpatient entrance is accessible between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. If you must leave the facility, please make every effort to do so between these hours. The Emergency Department entrance is accessible after 9:00 p.m.

No Patient Left Alone Act

During the 2024 legislative session, the Georgia General Assembly passed the No Patient Left Alone Act, which was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp on May 6, 2024, and made effective on July 1, 2024. This legislation establishes visitation rights for individuals admitted to hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Read the No Patient Left Alone Act

Piedmont encourages the use of electronic devices to communicate with patients who are hospitalized. While we regret the inconvenience it may cause for some patients, safety is at the center of our organization, and we believe these steps are necessary to create the safest environment at our hospital.

Virtual Visiting Resources

Infection control and prevention measures are always a priority at Piedmont Cartersville. Our Infection Control specialists and clinical leadership have a coordinated and comprehensive plan to handle infectious disease patients, adhering to the CDC’s recommendations and guidelines for prevention, surveillance and treatment.