In-person Visits and Safety

Provisions will be provided to individuals with disabilities authorizing support persons to accompany, visit, and stay in the hospital. For individuals requiring additional support persons to accompany them to Kennedy Krieger, this request should be made in advance.  Please let the Care Center staff know at the time that the appointment/admission is scheduled. 

If you have questions, please contact the Director of Guest relations at GuestRelations@KennedyKrieger.org or 443-923-2640.

Click on each section below to learn about our Visitation/Rooming Guidelines

Updated 8-21-20

Rehabilitation Inpatient Units : Brain Injury, Feeding, Medical, Post Ortho, Spinal Cord Injury

Only one parent or caregiver can be with their child at any one time; however, two parents or caregivers are allowed to room in for the duration of the admission.

• Parents/caregivers coming to the inpatient unit from any state other than Maryland must present negative COVID-19 test results that are no older than 72 hours prior to their arrival.
• The Institute will allow two identified parents/caregivers to switch on or off as needed during the admission, AS LONG AS the following is adhered to:
  • Only one parent/caregiver on the rehabilitation inpatient unit is allowed at a time; changeover will happen in the main lobby of the 707 building.
  • Each time a parent/caregiver returns to Kennedy Krieger Institute, they are subject to entry screening for acute respiratory illness and travel.  If a parent/caregiver is sick, they should not come to the unit. If it is determined that the parent/caregiver has symptoms that are being screened (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell, or other symptoms), they will not be allowed on the floor.
  • While at Kennedy Krieger, the parent/caregiver can only leave for medical reasons and exercise. The Institute will provide meals for the parent/caregiver while on the unit.  Additionally, staff are available to provide assistance with obtaining essential items for families during their stay.
  • Parents/caregivers must wear a mask at all times in the hospital when they are not bathing or eating.
  • The parent/caregiver who is NOT at Kennedy Krieger Institute must adhere to self-isolation guidelines when not at the hospital: only leaving the house for essential purposes (medical care, food, and exercise), avoiding any gatherings beyond their immediate family and wearing a mask whenever outside their home.

If the parent/caregiver thinks they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 at any time during their child’s admission, they should contact the Charge Nurse at 443-923-9433.

No visitors allowed due to Infection Control Concerns

• Due to the number of staff interacting with patients and common patient care areas on the neurobehavioral unit, there may be an increased risk of transmission of the virus to patients and staff.  To that end, the Infection Control Office at Kennedy Krieger is prohibiting visitors during admission.
• Parents and caregivers are notified of visitation policy prior to admission and must agree to the conditions for visitation prior to admission.
• Accommodations are provided to parents/caregivers in order to provide support including Zoom visits that are scheduled once a week for 15 minutes enabling the parent to see and interact with their child.  In addition, therapists are in regular contact by phone with parents to discuss progress at least weekly.

Per the patient’s individualized treatment plan, parents/ caregivers must attend an in-person training session prior to discharge.  The parent/caregiver will work directly with the patient in training sessions under the supervision of staff.  Parents/caregivers coming for training must present negative COVID-19 test results that are no older than 72 hours prior to their arrival.

Only one support person allowed to accompany patients.

• Support persons under the age of 18 not allowed.
• All persons coming to the Institute will be screened at the entrance and required to wear a mask. 

All patients and accompanying support persons must wear a face covering with the following exceptions: facemasks and cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.