Visitor Policy

To provide guidelines which support the presence and participation of family and other partners in care, according to patient preference, which support the delivery of safe and efficient care. Inpatient visiting hours are subject to change and will be reflected in the patient handbook and door signage.

Procedure

1. Upon admission, patients and/or Partners in Care will be informed of the visitation policy and Partners in Care will be identified and documented in the medical record.

2. Due to the potential for disruption in patient care, the facility and/or unit may restrict visitation under the
circumstances listed below:

  • The patient or legal representative restricts or designates their own visitation
  • There is a documented legal reason imposed.
  • The behavior creates a direct risk or threat to patients, families, staff, or others in the immediate
    environment, or is disruptive to the functioning of the patient care.
  • Visitors interfere with the ability to provide medical care to the patient or are disruptive to the therapeutic environment required to promote patient healing

3. In general, two visitors will be permitted in a patient’s room at any given time. This number may be restricted by the primary nurse if visitation is determined to be disruptive to the patient’s care. If a patient or family member is requesting more than two visitors at a time, the primary nurse will collaborate with the family to determine if this works with limited disruption in the patient’s care.

  • For isolation patients, in general only one visitor will be permitted. Visitors must adhere to all PPE
    requirements appropriate for the isolation type. Visitors cannot be present during aerosolizing
    procedures

4. Visitors must not have respiratory illness symptoms or current/ recent fever when visiting. All visitors must adhere to the hospital’s infection control policies, which includes avoiding food storage in patient rooms or waiting room.

5. Visitors must not loiter in the hallway or outside of the patient rooms at any time. All visitors must remain in the patient room or move to the designated family room or waiting rooms.

6. Children who are supervised by an adult (other than the patient) are welcome and not restricted by age. Good judgement and level of maturity should be considered for children under the age of 12, especially when visiting the ICU. Visiting children must not have respiratory illness symptoms or current/recent fever when visiting.

7. Visitation may be halted if a community outbreak of a communicable disease occurs or a nosocomial infection is identified. If visitation is suspended or restricted senior leadership will determine policy.

8. Visitors are asked not to bring contraband onto the units. Examples of contraband include narcotics without prescription, tobacco products, alcohol or street drugs, weapons, or any object determined to be unsafe or inappropriate for the patient. If visitors bring such contraband with them, they will be asked to return items to car, if refused visitor will be asked to leave the facility for the day.

9. Profane language (cussing), threats toward staff, physical altercations or inappropriate behavior WILL NOT be tolerated on the units. If these actions are observed, visiting privileges maybe revoked.

10. Visiting privileges may be limited or restricted based on provider or RN assessment of a patient’s ability to process stimulus of visitation, i.e., if increased stimulation is causing agitation, etc. These decisions will be discussed with the patient (if appropriate) and/or Partner in Care.

11. Any violation of this policy may result in the immediate removal of person or persons causing the disruptive behavior as determined by the provider or RN.

12. If visitation is restricted for a visitor, the patient will be informed. The Partner in Care should also be notified of such restrictions.

Inpatient Visitation

1. Visiting hours for PARTNERS IN CARE:
6 a.m.-9 p.m. – General visiting hours with the exceptions noted below*
9 p.m.-6 a.m. – One Partner in Care may stay overnight to promote patient safety and support

2. Visiting hours for VISITORS:
6 a.m.-9 p.m. – General visiting hours with the exceptions noted below*
9 p.m.-6 a.m. – Accommodations for one visitor will be made on an individual basis with advanced planning, unit manager approval, and security clearance.
*The following are examples of exceptions to the general visitation policy:

  • End of Life: Anytime, 24 hours a day
  • Women’s Services: Contact department for visitation guidelines and departmental policy
    and procedures
  • Psychiatry: Contact department for visitation guidelines and departmental policy and procedures

Patients and Partners in Care may request an exception to the policy by informing their primary nurse. These will be reviewed by the primary nurse and charge nurse/or manager, with a decision communicated to the patient and/or Partners in Care within 24 hours.

3. Visitors will be allowed to visit during open visitation (9 p.m.-6 a.m.), except during posted quiet time hours. Quiet time will be observed for two hours per shift per day; hours will be posted on each unit. All visitors and staff are required to adhere to unit policies during Quiet Time. It is requested that all Partners in Care and/or visitors leave during this time to allow patients to rest.

4. UofL, Jewish & Mary and Elizabeth Hospitals: If a visitor routinely or consistently interferes with patient care, the visitor will be required to sign a behavior contract to continue visiting patients in the hospital. If the behavior contract is violated, the visitor will not be allowed in the hospital as determined by hospital leadership and/or security.

Hospital inpatients

All inpatients may have two (2) visitors who should remain in the patient’s room during the visitation. Visiting hours will be between 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

Exceptions to the general visitation policy:

  • End of life: Anytime, 24 hours a day
  • Women’s services: Visitation guidelines and departmental policy and procedures can be viewed here.
  • Psychiatry: Contact the department for visitation guidelines and departmental policy and procedures

We welcome clergy for patients in palliative care, emergency care and hospice care, Emergency Department and Urgent Care.

Emergency Departments and Urgent Cares

One guardian or parent is permitted to accompany pediatric patients. Nursing staff may make accommodations for one visitor to accompany an adult or senior patient if the patient requires special support and only in extreme situations.

Surgery or procedural areas

Adult patients scheduled for a surgery or a procedure (inpatient or outpatient) may have one (1) person accompany them into the facility. A private waiting area will be opened where available; however, visitors will still be encouraged to remain in their car during the procedure as public waiting areas will be severely limited in order to maintain appropriate social distancing. We will continue with our phone notification plan following all procedures that OR has outlined previously. Pediatric patients scheduled for surgery may have two parents/guardians accompany them into the facility.

Adult outpatient medical centers and offices

Adult patients can be accompanied by one (1) visitor into their appointment at this time. Pediatric patients may have two parents or guardians in the exam room. Children supervised by an adult are welcome and not restricted by age. All patients should arrive wearing a mask and will complete a health screening prior to their appointment.

Visitors with a fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, body aches or respiratory symptoms are discouraged from accompanying the patient to the appointment.

UofL Health – Peace Hospital

Peace Hospital’s Assessment and Referral Center may have one (1) person accompany the patient into the facility. We encourage the use of Zoom and phone calls to visit loved ones in the hospital. In-person visitation requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

UofL Health – UofL Hospital – Center for Women & Infants

Visitors are allowed to visit those in the hospital during open visitation, except during posted quiet times. The patient’s children, when supervised by an adult other than the patient, are welcome during visiting hours and not restricted by age.

You must not have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, body aches or respiratory symptoms when visiting.

All visitors should wash their hands with soap and water for 30 seconds when entering and leaving patient rooms and the facility in general. Any visitor must stay in the patient’s room the entire time of the visit or move to the designated family room or waiting rooms.

Masks are no longer required at this time.

Labor and Delivery – Triage

  • Triage patients are allowed one (1) partner-in-care and one (1) labor support person.
  • Visitors must remain in the room at all times. The only exception is during a procedure.

Labor and Delivery – Patient in Labor

  • Laboring patients may have one (1) partner-in-care and one (1) labor support person stay in the room, including overnight.
  • The patients’ children may visit during visiting hours with adult supervision (who is not the patient).
  • All visitors must stay in the patient room throughout their visit.

Antepartum – Postpartum – Mother/Baby
Unit – Gynecological Patients

  • Patients in these units may have one (1) partner-in-care who is able to stay in the room throughout the length of the stay, including overnight.
  • One (1) additional visitor, not including the partner-in-care, may be in the room during visiting hours, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
  • The patients’ children may visit with adult supervision (who is not the patient) during visiting hours.
  • All visitors must stay in the patient room throughout their visit.
  • Please note quiet time for Postpartum is 2-4 p.m. Only the partner-in-care is encouraged to visit during this time.

NICU

  • The mother and father of baby are allowed in the NICU 24 hours/day.
  • Siblings/children may NOT visit the NICU.
  • All visitors must:
    • Call the unit to be admitted.
    • Wash hands/arms up the elbow for 30 seconds when entering.
    • Fill out a health screening and have temperatures taken daily.
  • There should not be more than two (2) visitors at the bedside at a time.
  • Please note quiet time in the NICU is between Noon - 2 p.m.

Other important information for all visitors

For more information about COVID-19 transmission and prevention, visit the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s COVID-19 website.

Calendar icon that indicates scheduling an appointment
Schedule an
Appointment