Visitation and Mask Policies as of April 17, 2026

Cape Fear Valley Health recognizes the important role that loved ones play in a patient’s healing and well-being. In keeping with North Carolina’s No Patient Left Alone Act, we support patient-centered visitation and welcome family members and friends in accordance with each patient’s preferences, with limited exceptions.

To ensure a safe and supportive environment for everyone, certain care areas may have specific visitation guidelines. Visitors are encouraged to review the Unit-Specific Visitation Requirements outlined below prior to their visit.

Cape Fear Valley Health may restrict visitation only when necessary to protect the health, safety, and dignity of our patients, visitors, and care team members.

Children as Visitors

Cape Fear Valley Health welcomes children of all ages to visit, provided they are free of any contagious illness and visits take place during the visiting hours from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For everyone’s safety, children may not remain in the hospital overnight and must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult other than the patient. Visitors under the age of 18 are also not permitted to stay overnight.

Before bringing a child for a visit, we ask that families check with the patient’s nurse or physician to confirm that visitation is appropriate and safe for the patient’s condition. Please note that additional unit-specific visitor restrictions may apply in certain care areas.

Illness and Symptom Guidance

Out of respect for the health and safety of our patients, visitors, and care teams, please do not visit Cape Fear Valley Health if you or your children are experiencing symptoms of COVID‑19 or another acute, contagious illness.

Symptoms include, but are not limited to:

  • Sore throat
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Cough, nasal drainage, or congestion not related to allergies
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Chills
  • Generalized body aches
  • Diarrhea within the past 24 hours
  • Vomiting within the past 24 hours

By entering a Cape Fear Valley Health facility, visitors acknowledge that they are free of the symptoms listed above and are helping us maintain a safe, healing environment for all.

Measles Precautions

Due to increased measles activity in some regions, additional precautions may be required in certain clinical areas of Cape Fear Valley Health facilities if a potential exposure risk is identified.

Visitors should postpone their visit until they have been evaluated and cleared by a healthcare provider if they:

  • Have symptoms consistent with measles, such as fever, rash, cough, runny nose, or red eyes
  • Have been recently exposed to someone with measles
  • Are unsure of their measles vaccination status
    • In these situations, masking or other protective measures may be required to help protect patients, visitors, and staff.

Overnight Visitors

A patient’s designated support person (1) is welcome to remain overnight. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted to stay overnight.

Overnight visiting is limited to patient rooms only. Visitors may not remain overnight in waiting rooms or other public areas, including cafeterias.

Quiet Hours

To support rest and healing, Cape Fear Valley Health observes designated quiet hours each day from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. During this time, we ask visitors to help maintain a peaceful environment for our patients.

Some specialty and critical care units may observe additional quiet periods during daytime hours to promote optimal recovery.

Unit-Specific Guidelines

2 North (Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and Betsy Johnson)

Overnight visitation is not permitted.

Cancer Centers

Visitors must be at least 12 years old and accompanied by an adult. Two visitors, 18 years of age and older, may accompany patients during provider exam. No one under age 18 is allowed in chemotherapy infusion areas. Masks are optional unless otherwise directed by staff.

Due to our immunocompromised patient population, any visitor with fever, cough, and/or other cold symptoms will not be permitted to visit.

Emergency Department

Visitors must be at least 12 years old and accompanied by an adult. One visitor will be allowed to accompany adult patients while in the waiting room and two visitors once in treatment room.

Pediatric patients may have up to two support persons during their emergency department visit, one of whom must be the patient’s legal guardian or designee.

Highsmith Rainey Specialty Hospital

Visitors must be at least 12 years old and accompanied by an adult. Exceptions to the age requirement may be considered under extenuating circumstances (such as end of life), as approved by the care team/Nursing Supervisor.

Intensive Care Units:

No more than two visitors are allowed at the bedside at one time. Additional support persons may utilize designated waiting areas when not present in the patient’s room, as space and clinical needs allow.

Labor and Delivery

Laboring mothers at Cape Fear Valley Health may have up to three designated support persons. These individuals may come and go during labor but may not rotate or be replaced by others once designated.

Support persons must be 16 years of age or older and may remain with the patient throughout the Labor and Delivery stay. Exceptions to the age requirement may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis for minor parents or other unique circumstances, as approved by the care team/Nursing Supervisor. Additional support persons may utilize designated waiting areas when not present in the patient’s room, as space and clinical needs allow.

Pediatric Patients / Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Parents or legal guardians may visit at any time. Only parents or guardians may designate additional visitors. Children may visit but must be accompanied by an adult and may not stay overnight. No more than two visitors are allowed at the bedside at one time.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Two-banded visitors and four additional designated visitors are allowed and must be registered at the unit desk. Only two visitors may be at the bedside at one time. Visitors may come and go except during physician rounds (6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.). Overnight stays are not permitted. Siblings may visit Saturdays and Sundays from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. if they have no signs of illness.

Surgical Services

Preoperative (Pre‑Op) Visitation

Each patient may have one designated support person, as space allows. Exceptions may be made for pediatric patients or unique care needs.

Recovery Care Visitation

Visitation is limited during recovery to protect patient privacy and safety, as care is provided in an open‑bay environment. Exceptions may be made for pediatric patients or special circumstances. Once the patient is stable and awaiting a room assignment, one visitor may be welcomed, based on clinical readiness and unit safety considerations, as determined by the care team.

Care Companion

Patients who require a healthcare decision-maker or communication assistance may have one Care Companion present.

End‑of‑Life Patients

Cape Fear Valley Health supports the presence of loved ones during end‑of‑life care and recognizes the importance of comfort, dignity, and compassion for patients and families. Due to space constraints and care needs, visitation may be limited to four visitors at the bedside at any one time. Our care teams will work collaboratively with families to maximize the use of appropriate waiting rooms and other non‑clinical spaces so additional loved ones may remain nearby, supporting family‑centered care during this time.

Visitor limits may be adjusted based on the patient’s condition, care needs, and unit‑specific guidelines, with clinical and non‑clinical leadership authorized to evaluate circumstances and approve compassionate exceptions in areas with visitation restrictions when appropriate.