COVID-19 Visitor Restrictions

Visitor Restrictions for UK HealthCare

UK HealthCare Employees
COVID-19 Visitor Rules
Inpatient General Guidelines
Surgical/Procedural Patients
Outpatient Locations and Clinics
Other

 

Updated April 22, 2022

As COVID-19 remains a significant health risk for many individuals, UK HealthCare is continuing to restrict visitation in hospitals and clinics – with some amendments – to promote the health and safety of our patients, visitors and staff. Please note that all rules about visitation may be changed without notice.

UK HealthCare Employees

  • UK HealthCare employees must follow these guidelines:
    • Adhere to the same standards listed below for visiting any patient. An employee ID does not warrant unlimited access to the facility.
    • We encourage that employees not congregate in large numbers in common areas, including lobbies, hallways, waiting room/break rooms, etc.  Staff should continue to maintain social distancing of 6 ft. apart if possible.
    • Employees should limit the frequency they enter/exit the facility. Food deliveries should be retrieved at approved entry points.
    • Reminder that UK Healthcare is a tobacco free campus (see UK Healthcare policy A10-010). Nicotine replacement therapy is available for all employees at no cost.
    • All employees should wear proper identification visible above the waist, per enterprise policy, at all times in UK HealthCare facilities, including when entering facilities.
    • UK HealthCare staff and non-University of Kentucky employees (vendors, contractors, etc.) are required to self-screen prior to entry at one of our facilities and should continue to wear proper PPE.
    • Employee PPE includes universal medical masks and eye protection needed for patients per UK Healthcare standard and transmission based precautions.
    • ALL EMPLOYEES SHOULD WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES (INCLUDING ENTRY) WHILE IN ANY UK HEALTHCARE FACILITY.

COVID-19 Visitor Rules

As COVID-19 remains a significant health risk for many individuals, UK HealthCare is continuing to restrict visitation in all hospitals and clinics – with some amendments – to promote the health and safety of our patients, visitors and staff. This is a challenging time, and these guidelines are intended to provide additional safeguards throughout UK HealthCare facilities. These guidelines will be in place at UK Chandler Hospital, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, UK Good Samaritan Hospital, UK Markey Cancer Center, UK HealthCare Turfland, Kentucky Clinic and all other UK HealthCare buildings and facilities.

Summary

  • In general, the number of visitors welcomed at the bedside at any time for non-COVID patients, is determined in collaboration with the care team, patient and family.  During times of community or hospital outbreak of infectious disease, additional visitation restrictions may apply for public and patient health. (see UK Healthcare policy A01-080)
  • All visitors must pass COVID-19 screening and should follow current COVID-19 visitor guidelines and policies.
  • One visitor will be allowed to stay overnight.
  • One visitor is allowed for each COVID positive patient.
  • Children (under 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcomed. Modifications may apply and are at the discretion of the care team. Although younger children may be developmentally unable to remain with the patient for lengthy periods of time, contact with these children can be of significant importance to the patient.
  • Visitors must wear a mask at all times while in public areas and are encouraged to remain masked when in the patient room. Patients and visitors must wear a mask when staff enter the room and will be reminded to do so when they are entering.
  • Visitors must stop at a screening station and pass a screening before entering our facilities.  Overnight visitors must screen daily.
  • Visitors may wait in the waiting room but are encouraged to social distance from individuals outside of their household.
  • Family and friends are encouraged to utilize alternative visitation options for the safety of our patients and staff. iPad visitation is available upon request and video visitation is possible in many ICU areas. Phone calls and other virtual visits are encouraged.

Expectations for Patients & Visitors

To help prevent the spread of infection, visitors:

  • Will be screened: for symptoms of COVID-19 before entering UK HealthCare hospitals and individual clinics with ambulatory facilities. Screening questions include 1) Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days? 2) Do you have any COVID-19 symptoms?  Visitors who screen positive (answer yes to any of the above questions) will not be allowed to enter our facilities.
  • Must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer every time they enter or exit a patient room.
  • Must wear a mask at all times while in our facilities. Visitors must wear a mask at all times in public including all waiting rooms and lobbies.  Cloth masks are not recommended but appropriate medical masks are provided at screening stations and throughout the building.  For the safety of the patient and staff we encourage visitors to wear their mask while inside visiting your patient.  Visitors who refuse to wear a mask or accept a reasonable accommodation while on UK HealthCare property will be asked to leave.
  • Should limit the number of personal items brought into any UK HealthCare facility to reduce the transmission of germs. We will allow only one small duffel bag (not to exceed 24 inches in length) of belongings for each inpatient. This may be brought in by a designated visitor. Belongings delivered to entry points for patients must fit into a clear, one-gallon bag. Items should be limited to essential items (ie: glasses, electronics, books, cards, pictures). Perishable foods or medicine will not be allowed. UK HealthCare does not assume any liability for lost, misplaced or broken items.
  • Visitors must adhere to our polices including our COVID-19 polices and behavioral expectations.  Failure to follow polices and guidelines could result in visitation privileges revoked.

 

Entry & Exit Requirements

  • Visitors may be asked to step out of the patient room or clinic room by the care team so that a procedure can be performed on the patient. Visitors will be required to wait in an approved waiting room.
  • Visitors are discouraged from leaving the facility to smoke. Visitors who frequently exit the building to smoke may not be permitted to re-enter.  Please talk to our health care staff about smoking cessation options.

Inpatient General Guidelines

NON-COVID adult patients staying in the hospital

  • The number of visitors allowed at bedside may vary and is determined in collaboration with the care team, patient and family.  Visitors are permitted to switch out but should limit the number of times entering/exiting the building.
  • Children (under 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcomed. Modifications may apply and are at the discretion of the care team
  • One visitor is allowed to stay overnight.

Non-COVID Pediatric patients

  • One or two designated parents/legal guardians may accompany and stay with the patient for the length of the hospital stay (including overnight).
  • The number of visitors allowed at bedside may vary and is determined in collaboration with the care team, patient and family.  Visitors are permitted to switch out but should limit the number of times entering/exiting the building.
  • Visitation to units serving immunocompromised patients may be limited or suspended.
  • Children (under 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcomed during visiting hours.  Children over the age of 12 may visit in the PICU/PCICU.  Sibling visits for less than 12 may be arranged through the support of Child Life.
  • Additional modifications may apply and are at the discretion of the care team

Adult COVID-positive or under investigation

One designated asymptomatic visitor is allowed in the room. No switching is allowed. Designated visitor can leave and come back.

  • Visitors should remain in the patient’s room and should not visit any other locations in the facility.
  • Visitors will be asked to wear appropriate PPE in the room including mask, gown and gloves.
  • Eating or drinking in isolation rooms is discouraged, as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care or other compassionate care situations.

Pediatric COVID-positive or under investigation

  • One or two designated parents/legal guardians may accompany and stay with the patient for the length of the hospital stay (including overnight).
  • Parents/guardians should remain in the patient’s room and should not visit any other locations in the facility.
  • Parents/guardians will be asked to wear appropriate PPE in the room including mask, gown and gloves.
  • Eating or drinking in isolation rooms is discouraged for parents/legal guardians who do not spend entirety of isolation in the room, as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.

Clergy Visitation

Community clergy and spiritual leaders are now allowed to make routine visits to their congregants and parishioners who are hospitalized at this time after completing screening and identification processes.  The UK HealthCare chaplain staff continues to be available to provide spiritual support to any patient at any time.

External Visitors

External visitors are not preferred but allowed upon passing COVID screening.  External visitors are visitors who may not have a patient in the hospital but have other duties within UK Healthcare.  Visitation is at the discretion of the unit and may vary per unit.

Students/Observers

UK and Non-UK Students are allowed with symptom screening and appropriate PPE.  High school students, international students, and observers are not preferred but allowed at the discretion of the area.  Staff should consider crowding, benefit vs. risk, and should consider only vaccinated students/observers.

Volunteers

Volunteers are allowed at the discretion at each unit.

Special Units

Emergency department

Adult Emergency Department

After appropriate screening, 3 visitors (although 2 is preferred), typically immediate family, will be allowed to accompany an adult ED patient. Exceptions can be made on a case by case basis.

Children (under 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcomed. Modifications may apply and are at the discretion of the care team

Pediatric Emergency Department

After appropriate screening, one or two parents/guardians and 2 grandparents, will be allowed to accompany a pediatric ED patient, unless the attending physician has a reason to limit.  Exceptions can be made on a case by case basis.

Children (under 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcomed. Modifications may apply and are at the discretion of the care team.

Behavioral Health units

Behavioral Health visiting hours are as follows
  • Adult and Adolescent Units: 1p-3p on Saturdays and Sundays
  • Adult Unit: 3p-4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
  • Adolescent Unit: 4p-5p on Tuesdays and Thursdays
  • Legal Holiday Visiting 1p-3p

The number of visitors allowed at bedside may vary and is determined in collaboration with the care team, patient and family.  Upon admission patients/parents/guardians will be given specific guidelines for visiting on behavioral health unit. 

Blood and marrow transplant patients: (PAV A 11th floor Tower 200)

  • Patients in the hospital for cancer care may have two visitors at a time at bedside
  • Only one visitor may stay overnight with the patient

Obstetric (OB) patients

  • OB patients may have one birth-support with them during delivery, and up to two visitors (support person does not count as a visitor) or a total of three people.
  • Additional rules will be in place for OB patients who are COVID-positive/results-pending.

Morgue visitation

Morgue visitation will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact pastoral care pager for exception (859-330-1520).

Pet visitation

We are currently working to bring back pet therapy to inpatient non-COVID rooms.  Please contact your care team or volunteer services for more details.  Pet therapy to inpatient rooms expected to resume 6/1/22. See UK Healthcare policy A11-050 for animals on UKHC property.

Comfort care/hospice visitation

Patients receiving comfort care will be held to the same inpatient visitation policy. A reasonable exception may be granted by unit management for inpatient non-COVID-19 patients who are at the end of life. The approved visitors must rotate visitation at the bedside as needed after approval from the care team and completion of appropriate screening. PPE is required to remain in place at all times.  

Surgical/Procedural Patients

Adult patients

  • We encourage patients to limit the number of visitors accompanying a patient for their surgery or other invasive procedures after being screened.
  • One visitor is allowed for adult patients in Pre-Op and PACU (post-operative anesthesia care) locations.

Pediatric patients

  • We encourage patients to limit the number of visitors accompanying a patient for their surgery or other invasive procedures after being screened.
  • One or two parents/guardians may accompany the pediatric patient in procedural areas, including pre-op and PACU

Any questions from visitors regarding this policy for surgical/procedural patients should be directed to Surgery Waiting at 859-323-4050.

Outpatient Locations & Clinics

Adult & Pediatric outpatient visits:

  • We encourage patients to limit the number of visitors accompanying them to their visit during COVID-19.  The number of people welcomed into clinic exam and waiting rooms will vary depending on room size, patient condition and number of people in the clinic.
  • All visitors must pass a COVID-19 screening
  • To help maintain social distancing and limit the spread of COVID-19, additional restrictions up to no visitors may be applied. The presence of visitors is variable per site based on the size of available waiting areas.  Please contact your clinic/appointment prior to verify their current visitation rules.

Markey Cancer Center Outpatient Clinics:

  • We encourage patients to limit the number of visitors accompanying them to their visit during COVID-19. The number of people welcomed into clinic exam and waiting rooms will vary depending on room size, patient condition and number of people in the clinic. No visitors under 18 should be visiting during COVID-19.
  • We encourage no more than one to two support people to accompany a patient to an appointment at Markey Cancer Center.
  • Please contact your clinic/appointment prior to verify their current visitation rules.

Outpatient infusion:

  • We encourage no more than one support person to accompany a patient to an infusion appointment due to increased risk to immunocompromised patients.

Other Areas 

Pharmacy Pickups and Medical Records

We encourage patients and visitors to limit the number of people accompanying them inside UKHC. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Anyone entering UKHC must wear proper PPE and pass COVID screening. If the patient is COVID-19 positive or cannot pass COVID-19 screening they should call ahead to coordinate with pharmacy or medical records.

  • A Pharmacy: 859-218-3340
  • KY Clinic Pharmacy: 859-323-0238
  • Good Sam. Pharmacy: 859-226-7038
  • Turfland Pharmacy: 859-257-5899

Financial Services

Financial services is not on-site. They do not accept walk-ins or appointments and should be contacted at 859-323-9898.

Patient and Employee Shuttles

Masks are still required at all times on all shuttles. Social distancing is encouraged when possible.

Food

Cafeterias are open to both employees and visitors. Masks should be worn before and after eating. Social distancing is encouraged when possible.

Outside food and food deliveries are discouraged.  If food is delivered, it must be picked up at the main entrances.  Employees and visitors are expected to meet the drivers at the entrances. Food should not be unattended in the lobby and is subject to be thrown away if just left.

 

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult time. These guidelines are in place to keep our patients, their families and our staff safe.