Visitor Guide

Updated June 26, 2025

In response to increasing measles cases in the region, Monument Health Rapid City Hospital has announced an immediate change to its visitor policy for Labor & Delivery, Neonatal Intensive Care, Pediatric Intensive Care and Pediatric inpatient units.

Effective immediately, the updated policy is designed to protect vulnerable patients, including infants and pregnant mothers, from exposure to this highly contagious disease.

Updated Visitor Guidelines:

Labor & Delivery:

• One designated support person will be permitted for the duration of the mother’s stay. This may include a spouse, legal guardian of the newborn or a doula.
• Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care (PICU) and Pediatric Inpatients:
• Two designated support individuals will be permitted upon admission and for the duration of the child’s stay. This may include the birth mother and spouse, legal guardians or a doula (NICU only).

No additional visitors will be permitted. Support persons may not switch out after admission.

“These precautions are designed to protect our most vulnerable patients,” said Brad Archer, Chief Medical Officer of Monument Health. “Measles poses serious health risks to newborns, children, and those with compromised immune systems. We understand that limiting visitors is difficult, but we must prioritize safety.”

Measles, eliminated as an endemic disease in the U.S. in 2000, has returned in recent years due to declining vaccination rates and increasing international transmission. Experts now believe measles is likely to remain a recurring, preventable public health threat in the United States for the foreseeable future.

Consequently, Monument Health is actively working with clinical and public health experts to design a long-term measles response framework that will ensure ongoing protection for patients, staff, and the community.

For more information about current visitor policies or measles prevention, please visit www.monument.health/measles.

Updated July 30, 2023

1. Visitation for hospitalized patients is from 7:30 a.m.- 7:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Areas such as the emergency department, Women’s and Children and Hospice House have flexible hours 24/7.
2. Clinics welcome visitors when their loved one is being seen.
3. Patients and visitors are encouraged to designate a primary individual to facilitate effective communication among extended family members and health care teams. For hospitalized patients, the primary individual will be identified on the Communication Board located in the patient’s room and in the record. For all other service areas, the primary individual will be identified and communicated to the care team and placed in the record.
4. It is preferred to have no more than two visitors at any one time in the inpatient /clinic/ emergency department areas. In situations where there are shared rooms, this negotiation will include the other patient and support person. To ensure safety, consideration will also be given to the physical limitations of the space.
5. The Hospice Program allows for unlimited visitors and visitation. The Hospice House is a locked facility.
6. Behavioral Health is a locked facility and individualizes visitor presence per patient.
7. Women’s and Children’s have security guidelines. These guidelines are instituted and monitored by the Women’s and Children’s staff.
8. Families are encouraged to engage with care under the direction of the nursing staff.
9. Children supervised by an adult other than the patient are welcomed. Children are not restricted by age. Children under the age of 14 years of age are expected to remain with the supervising adult. Children’s behavior and safety will be monitored by the responsible adult to ensure a safe and restful environment for the patient(s) and a positive and developmentally appropriate experience for children.
10. If an adult visitor cannot care for themselves a support person for the visitor is required.
11. To keep our patients healthy, we request that visitors avoid visiting if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose/nasal congestion, muscle aches, and/or fatigue or diarrhea. Visitors are asked to perform hand hygiene before entering and upon leaving the patient’s room.
12. Overnight stays are determined by the health care team based on the needs of the patient and situation. If the patient is in a semi-private room, the overnight stay must be approved by the roommate or support person.
13. If a family is asked to come to the bedside after visiting hours, the bedside staff will instruct them on how to enter the facility.
14. Confidential or Restricted status is appropriately documented in EPIC which allows other health care team members to honor that status.
15. Disruptive behavior and unsafe practices by visitors are not acceptable. These situations will be addressed directly and promptly.
16. There may be unique and extenuating circumstances that require compassionate exceptions to these guidelines. It is recommended that the primary nurse and the health care team, in collaboration with the patient and family, use professional judgment in considering the unique family circumstances and patient needs when applying these guidelines. Compassionate exceptions should be noted in the record and communicated to the front desk.

Monument Health promotes and supports a patient and family-centered approach to care while maintaining safety and security for patients, caregivers and physicians.

Patients and visitors are respected as essential members of the health care team, helping to ensure quality and safety.

Visitors, as identified by the patient, are family members, friends, and/or other individuals who provide physical, psychological, emotional and/or spiritual support for the patient.  Visitors are invited to contribute to the care of the patient during clinic visits, hospital stays, emergency room visits and in the transition to home and community care. For the safety of our patients and visitors, there may be some patient care areas that have limited access for visitors.

Our well-informed volunteers and Guest Services staff will be happy to assist you in finding your way around our campus.

At Monument Health Rapid City Hospital and Hospice House our staff and volunteers are available to provide information on nearby areas or to help you in any way we can. They are available to serve patients, their families, visitors and hospital caregivers.

For the comfort and convenience of our guests, a Guest Services Specialist is available at the Guest Service desk in the main lobby of the Monument Health Rapid City Hospital to assist you. They are available from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. We invite you to call 605-755-9330.

Monument Health is dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment. Our security officers and emergency preparedness teams operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist all who visit our facilities.

If you have a concern for either your safety and security or someone else’s, please contact the Security Department at 605-755-8215. For emergencies call 605-755-3111.

Free parking for patients and visitors is available at every Monument Health location. Please follow the signs.

Search for a location and get directions.

Patients and visitors are cautioned not to park in reserved or designated areas and please remember to lock your car.

Valet Parking (Rapid City Only)

Monument Health Rapid City Hospital; 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Complimentary valet service is available at Rapid City Hospital’s main entrance off 5th Street. This service is available to all patients and visitors. Our valet attendants are not allowed to accept tips or gratuities. After 5 p.m. we ask for patients and visitors to contact Security to retrieve keys. Call 605-755-8215.

Wheelchairs can be found at the Main Entrance and the Emergency Entrance for your use during your time with us. If you cannot locate a wheelchair, ask any caregiver for assistance.

Select the wireless network MHGuestNet on your laptop, tablet or smartphone.