Visitor Policy

Inpatient

All visitors must sign in at the hospital’s West Entry check-in desk and pass screening questions (see questions below). A medical face mask covering the nose and mouth is optional.

Masks are required for patients and visitors in our Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Unit.

Masks are available at check-in.

Inpatient Visiting Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily.

• • Adult patients, Sub-Acute Rehabilitation patients and Mary Free Bed Kids patients are encouraged to limit visitors to two per day.

• • COVID-19-positive adult patients may have one designated visitor; Mary Free Bed Kids patients may have two designated visitors.
  • At Network locations, follow that location’s visitor policy.

Outpatient

• • One adult family member/caregiver may accompany you.
  • Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics locations: One adult family member/caregiver may accompany you.
  • At Network locations, follow that location’s visitor policy.
  • Patients and the family member/caregiver must pass screening questions (see questions below). A medical face mask (or a face shield if you’re medically unable to wear a mask) is optional. A mask will be provided at check-in upon request.

Visiting Guidelines

Illness
For the benefit of all patients, we ask that visitors who are sick, even with a common cold, delay visiting.

Food
Only food items prepared by the Mary Free Bed Kitchen & Cafe or Mercy Health Saint Mary’s cafeteria are permitted on campus for our patients. Homemade meals and baked goods are not allowed due to Michigan Public Health Food Code.

The Mary Free Bed Kitchen & Cafe offers fresh-from-scratch cooking with seasonal ingredients. Located on the second floor, it’s open for indoor and outdoor dining as well as grab-and-go meals. Food also is available at Urban Platter, the cafeteria in Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Hospital adjoining Mary Free Bed. For coffee lovers, our main lobby is home to Biggby Coffee, open every day of the week.

Tobacco Policy
Mary Free Bed’s campus is tobacco and e-cigarette free in compliance with Michigan’s Smoke-Free Air Law and the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. This policy was adopted out of concern for the health and wellbeing of all our patients and employees. Our tobacco-free policy applies to all employees, patients, visitors, vendors and contractors. Thank you for your cooperation with this policy.

Restricted Items
Mary Free Bed adheres to strict regulations from the State Fire Marshal.  To protect the safety of our entire campus, the following items are not permitted in our hospital: electric blankets, space heaters, mini fridges, crockpots, holiday or string lights (including battery operated), Christmas trees (real or fake). Please ask a staff member if you have a question about a particular item or decoration.

Contacting a Patient

Email
Friends and family may email a patient. The email will be printed by a staff member, placed in a sealed envelope and delivered to the appropriate patient. We suggest that e-cards have little or no animation so the entire message can be printed on paper. Send an email directly through any email account:

• • • In the “To” field, type: patient@maryfreebed.com
    • In the “Subject” field, type the patient’s full name.
    • Type message and send.

Sending Mail
Patient privacy laws prohibit Mary Free Bed staff from giving out patient room numbers. Our staff will ensure your correspondence is directed to the correct patient even if you do not indicate the patient’s room.

Send direct mail to this address:

• Patient name
  Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
  235 Wealthy St. SE
  Grand Rapids, MI 49503-5299

Following a Patient Online
Some patients and families use a website or blog to connect with family and friends following a serious health event and recovery. These sites are easy to use, personal and private. Users write health updates or share photos on their pages, and visitors can show their love and support through messages left in a guestbook. Find a Mary Free Bed patient website.

Sending Gifts
Mary Free Bed staff will bring deliveries of flowers, plants, balloons and other gifts to the patient’s room. Some patients may have allergies to latex, so we recommend sending only Mylar balloons (shiny silver on one side and filled with helium).

Health and Safety

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect everyone’s health, Mary Free Bed is limiting the number of people coming into our buildings. We’ve enhanced protocols and added resources that meet or exceed national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and OSHA mandates surrounding the pandemic.

• Patients and the family member/caregiver must pass screening questions (see questions below) and wear a medical face mask (or a face shield if you’re medically unable to wear a mask). Masks are available at check-in.

COVID-19 Screening
Everyone (patients, designated visitors/caregivers, employees, vendors) is screened for COVID-19 symptoms and risk factors upon arrival at a Mary Free Bed location. You’ll be asked:

1. Do you have ANY of the following symptoms that have started or gotten worse in the past 48 hours:

• • Fever >100 | Cough or shortness of breath | Loss of taste or smell | Vomiting

2. Do you have two or more of the following symptoms that are new or have worsened in the past 48 hours?

• • Chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, diarrhea, congestion/runny nose, fatigue or nausea

3. Have you had a vaccination for COVID-19 in the last three days?

4. Have you had close contact with someone who is suspected of or has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days without wearing PPE?

If you answered YES to the any of these questions:

• • You will not be allowed to enter.
  • If you’re a patient, please call to reschedule your appointment.