SPOKANE, Wash. – Providence hospitals and clinics in Spokane and Stevens counties are tightening visitor rules starting Monday, Nov. 9, 2026.
The new visitor rules apply to Providence hospitals and Providence Medical Group clinics in Spokane County and Stevens County.
Visitors under age 12 will not be allowed in various departments throughout Providence INWA Hospitals beginning Nov. 9. At Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, the restriction covers inpatient units and includes siblings.
Visitors under age 12 also will not be allowed in the Women’s Health Center, including siblings.
Providence will re-evaluate these restrictions in the spring.
Visiting hours
Visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Holy Family Hospital, Mount Carmel Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center.
Pediatric, neonatal intensive care, and labor and delivery units do not have restricted hours.
Inpatient limits
Inpatients who are not in isolation may have two visitors at a time. Additional visitors must wait until current visitors leave the room.
Inpatients in isolation precautions, such as those for COVID-19, flu, RSV or tuberculosis, may have two visitors per day.
Those visitors must wear full personal protective equipment provided by the hospital.
Unit-specific rules
Pediatric patients: Two adult visitors are allowed, and one must wear a wristband.NICU at Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital: Visitors under 18 are not allowed.Adult critical care: Two visitors at a time. No visitors under 18.Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center critical care only: Visitors may come 24 hours a day. From 7 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., only the patient’s designated care partner may stay in the room.Labor and delivery and family maternity center: Laboring patients may have one wristbanded visitor and two other consistent visitors, for four people total including the patient. A certified doula is considered part of the treatment team.Antepartum and postpartum (mother-baby) patients: One wristbanded visitor at any time, plus two other visitors during visiting hours.Emergency department: Non-isolation patients may have two visitors. Isolation patients may have one visitor at a time in full PPE.Outpatient clinics and hospital campus clinics: Patients with appointments may have two escorts. Healthy siblings may accompany a family member to outpatient appointments at the Children’s Hospital.Surgical and procedural areas: Patients arriving for surgery or procedures may have two support or escort people.
Exceptions
Exceptions are allowed for patients at end of life and for patients who need language interpretation the tele-translator cannot provide. Clergy members may visit at any time, including outside regular hours. They do not count as a daily visitor, but they must be screened on entry. Nursing directors or administrators on call grant all other exceptions.
Screening and conduct
All visitors must check in at a screening desk and receive a visitor pass.
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