SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 10, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — University of Utah Health announced a revised visitor policy for its hospitals and clinics Monday.
“At University of Utah Health, we believe the support of friends and family is an important part of healing,” said a news release. “We strive to balance that belief with the need to protect all patients, those accompany/visiting patients, and staff from the potential spread of COVID-19. U of U Health will regularly review and update this visiting policy as needed, which may include the addition of more restrictive guidelines.”
The following visiting policy is in place at all U of U Health Hospitals and Clinics:
- All individuals accompanying patients to U of U Health facilities must be free of COVID-19 symptoms.
- All patients and companions must wear a face mask when entering U of U facilities and at all times while inside U of U Health facilities. Bandanas, buffs, and neck gaiters are not considered adequate face coverings.
Inpatient:
Two healthy individuals 18 years of age or older may be present at a time with an admitted patient in their room between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. These designated individuals may be replaced by other individuals on the same visiting day.
Ambulatory (Outpatient) and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics:
Two healthy individuals 12 years of age and older may accompany a patient to a scheduled appointment. Adults can attend visits, either for themselves or a child, with multiple children under 12.
Scheduled Surgery or Procedure:
Two healthy individuals 18 years of age or older may accompany a patient for the entirety of their procedure. These designated individuals may be replaced by other individuals.
Patients with active COVID-19:
Up to two healthy individuals 18 years of age and older may accompany a patient over the entirety of the hospitalization following screening and authorization by the nursing inpatient unit. Designated individuals may be present at the same time and cannot be replaced by other individuals. Authorized individuals MUST remain in the patient’s room and wear the required PPE at all times, and meet the following conditions as part of the screening/authorization process:
- Individual does not have current COVID-19 symptoms, AND
- Individual can provide proof of completed COVID-19 vaccination (more than two weeks after second dose of Pfizer/Moderna, or after first dose of J&J), OR
- Individual can provide proof of prior positive COVID-19 test at least 14 days ago and within the past 90 days AND is recovered from COVID-19.
Exceptions:
End of Life Treatment (Patients receiving Comfort Care):
Inpatient Setting
- Up to six individuals may be present each day to support the patient during the hospital stay, including overnight. No more than two individuals at a time in the patient room.
Emergency Department:
- One healthy individual may accompany a patient during an Emergency Department visit.
- If the patient is admitted to the hospital, the designated support individual may accompany the patient for the entirety of the check-in process.
- If the patient is admitted to the hospital after visiting hours, the designated support individual may accompany the patient to the admitting unit to review the welcome packet and then may return during normal visiting hours.
Child Birth/Newborns:
Inpatient Setting:
- Labor and Delivery patients — Two healthy adult individuals may be present throughout the entirety of the labor and delivery.
- Antepartum/Postpartum patients — Two healthy adult individuals may be present throughout the entire postpartum stay. One additional healthy adult may be present during inpatient visiting hours of 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Newborns — Two healthy adult individuals may visit anytime.
Ambulatory (Outpatient) Setting:
- The parent or primary caregiver and one healthy support person may accompany the newborn patient until four weeks of life.
Huntsman Mental Health Institute (formerly UNI):
- Adult and youth patients isolated with COVID-19 may not have visitors at this time.
- All visitors will be asked to answer general health questions related to COVID-19.
- No outside food or drink will be permitted inside HMHI facilities.
Adult Patients:
- Two designated healthy adults 18 years of age or older may visit a patient each day if arrangements are made with a unit coordinator. These designated individuals cannot be replaced by other individuals on the same visiting day.
- Maternal Mental Health patients may arrange visits with children upon approval by the treatment team.
- One healthy individual 12 years of age or older may accompany a patient to a scheduled appointment.
Youth Patients:
- Two healthy adult guardians 18 years of age or older may visit a patient each day when scheduled with unit coordinator. These designated individuals cannot be replaced by other individuals on the same day.
- Two healthy adult guardians 18 years of age or older may accompany a patient for a scheduled outpatient appointment.
