As of Thursday, June 11, UC Health is updating its visitor policy as follows:
UC Medical Center and West Chester Hospital
- One visitor per patient per day.
- Visitation hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the following exceptions:
- Emergency Department Hours: Visitors are allowed in our emergency departments 24 hours a day. In some cases, we may allow a visitor swap within a 24-hour period, with only one visitor at the bedside at any time.
- UC Medical Center adult ICUs Hours: Visiting times will be during a two (2) hour period determined as follows:
- Odd-number rooms: 1–3 p.m.
- Even-number rooms: 4–6 p.m.
- Exceptions to the adult ICU visitation hours will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the care team.
- Visitors may stay for the duration of visiting hours or at the discretion of the care team, but if they leave the hospital during those hours they will not be permitted to return the same day.
- Each patient will need to designate one visitor for the day (cannot be multiple different visitors on the same day but can be a different visitor each day).
- Visitors must be at least 15 years of age.
- If visitors are older than 65 years of age, we encourage them to review CDC and ODH guidelines for individuals with advanced age and chronic medical conditions. If any of these apply, we recommend avoiding visits to patients in our hospitals.
- No visitors are permitted to patients under investigation for COVID-19 or those with confirmed COVID-19. Loved ones are encouraged to use video chat on their personal devices to connect with patients who are not permitted visitors.
- Visitors will be screened and must be free of any COVID-19 symptoms.
- An employee will take each visitor’s temperature with an infrared no-touch thermometer, ask them a series of questions about symptoms and exposure, and give them a visitor sticker.
- All visitors are required to wear a mask while in a UC Health facility. If a visitor does not have a mask, they will be given one during the screening process.
While visitors are in the hospital, they must agree to the following, no exceptions:
- Be screened at visitor entrances and pass the screening criteria.
- Wear an approved dated sticker in a visible area.
- Wear an approved face covering that covers the nose and mouth, or the surgical mask that we provide.
- At all times while visitors are in the facility, their mask must cover their nose and mouth, even when they are in the patient’s room. Visitors who are unwilling or unable to comply with the surgical mask requirement will not be allowed to enter or remain in the building.
- Before reporting to the patient’s unit, report to the main information desk where you enter to ensure you are able to visit the patient.
- Once the visitor arrives on the patient’s floor or unit, please report to the nurse’s station prior to entering the patient’s room to ensure the patient is ready for them and to ensure that they are the visitor designated by the patient.
- Wash their hands (or use hand sanitizer) prior to entering the patient’s room and when leaving.
- Remain in the patient’s room the entire time that they are visiting.
- Always stay at least 6 feet away from the patient (social distance).
- Check out at the nurse’s station when they are ready to leave.
- Lobby or other traditional public waiting areas within the hospital are not open. Visitors are not permitted in these areas.
- Visitors who do not follow these guidelines will be asked to leave the facility.
Daniel Drake Center for Post-Acute Care
- The Long-Term Acute Care units are allowing visitors under the following circumstances:
- One visitor per patient per day.
- Visitation hours are 2–5 p.m.
- All patient visitors are to arrive and check in at the South Pavilion entrance between 2–4 p.m.
- Visitors may stay for the duration of visiting hours, but if they leave the hospital during those hours, they will not be permitted to return the same day.
- No visitors are permitted for patients that are COVID-19 positive or patients under investigation of COVID-19.
- Visitors must be at least 15 years of age.
- Visitors will be screened and must be free of any COVID-19 symptoms.
- An employee will take each visitor’s temperature with an infrared thermometer, ask them a series of questions about symptoms and exposure, and give them a visitor sticker for the day.
- All visitors are required to wear a mask while in the facility. If a visitor does not have a mask, they will be given one during the screening process.
- If visitors are older than 65 years of age, we encourage them to review CDC and ODH guidelines for individuals with advanced age and chronic medical conditions and avoid visiting hospitals if these apply.
- Due to regulatory requirements from the state of Ohio that remain in place for skilled nursing facilities, patients in the Daniel Drake Center’s Skilled Nursing Facility will not be allowed visitors at this time. UC Health will continue to evaluate these restrictions as the COVID-19 situation and regulatory requirements evolve in our state and region.
Outpatient and Ambulatory Clinics
- Only one visitor is permitted per patient, with some exceptions:
- Patients with children are encouraged to safely leave children at home to limit exposure; if this is not possible, children are permitted to attend appointments.
- For pediatric patients or adult patients with legal guardians, both parents/guardians are allowed to accompany the patient to their Ambulatory appointments.
- Visitors passing the screening will receive a dated green sticker. Visitors failing the screening will be asked to leave the building. If the visitor must accompany the patient during their visit for medically necessary reasons, the visitor will be provided a dated orange sticker.
- Visitors who are permitted to accompany the patient must wear a face covering or mask.