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Visitor Guidelines
At UConn Health, we recognize the importance family and friends bring to our patients and their healing process. Safety remains our highest priority, and we continue to take thoughtful, careful steps to protect the health and well-being of our patients, colleagues, and community. The guidelines below represent information for all UConn Health patient care areas, including the hospital, emergency department, ambulatory, and outpatient areas.
UConn Health does not deny, restrict, or otherwise limit visitation privileges or family presence based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
Visiting Patient Care Areas
These are the guidelines for specific patient care areas.
Hospital Locations
Hospital Visiting Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Hospital Public Entrance Hours
- University Tower: Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Weekends and Holidays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or as posted.
- Main Building: Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Weekends and Holidays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or as posted.
- Emergency Department: Open 24/7 for emergency and maternity care only. No general visitors are allowed during the above operating hours.
Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 Patients: No visitors are allowed except for end-of-life care, medical necessity, patients in labor, and specific predefined circumstances. Exceptions will be managed at the unit or department leadership level.
Inpatient Hospital Rooms, including Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Up to three visitors per patient at a time may be at the patient’s side during visiting hours, space permitting, at the discretion of the care team. All visitors must be 12 or older. A non-patient adult must always supervise children under 16.
- Additional visitors may be at the patient’s side under some circumstances (e.g., long-term hospitalization, family meetings, end-of-life visits, patient/family requests) at the discretion of the care team and unit or department leadership.
- Additional approved visitors and those switching off with other visitors are not permitted on the inpatient unit, including in the waiting room or lounge.
- Visits can be tiring for patients. Please keep track of your time with your loved one.
- Large gatherings of family members, friends, and other acquaintances of the patient are not permitted in the patient room or the family waiting room. Speak with the care team about any extenuating circumstances.
Inpatient Behavioral Health: Two visitors per patient at a time. Visitation hours Monday through Friday are 5 to 7 p.m., and on Weekends and Holidays, 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m., Patients may be visited by their clergy, legal counsel, or healthcare providers at any time.
Emergency Department (ED): Two visitors at the bedside 24 hours a day. All visitors must be 12 or older. Visitors may switch during the patient’s stay. Visitation may be at the discretion of the healthcare team.
Labor and Delivery: One support partner and two visitors, no children. For OB/postpartum, two visitors ages 12 and up, siblings are welcome. Additional visitors may be at the patient’s side at the discretion of the care team.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Parents or guardians may visit 24 hours a day. Parents or guardians may bring one day visitor per family between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Siblings over 18 years of age may visit with parents or guardians. The exception will be a sibling who is a twin or triplet.
Radiology, Laboratory, and Other Services: Up to two visitors may accompany the patient and wait in the lounge as space and accommodations permit. A non-patient adult must supervise children under 16 at all times. For safety reasons, visitors may not be permitted in exam/procedure rooms.
Please consult with the care team about any special circumstances.
Outpatient Services & Medical Office Appointments
Please review the information below to learn guidelines for accompanying patients to appointments at UConn Health.
Masks are now optional in UConn Health’s outpatient clinics and urgent cares. Patients with symptoms of respiratory infection are required to wear a mask.
We continue to ask that you avoid accompanying a patient if you have symptoms of illness. We also ask that you continue to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when you enter or leave a clinic or exam room.
Companions and Visitors
- Children are expected to behave in a manner consistent with a healing environment.
- For safety reasons, visitors may not be permitted in exam/procedure rooms. Please consult with the care team about any special circumstances.
Surgical and Procedure Patients: Up to two people may accompany the patient throughout the surgical or procedural process.
Medical Office and Urgent Care Visits: Two companions or support persons may accompany the patient and wait in the lounge as space and accommodations permit. An adult must supervise children under 16 at all times. For safety reasons, visitors may not be permitted in exam/procedure rooms. Clinical and practice leadership will manage exceptions.
New England Sickle Cell Institute (NESCI): No companions or visitors are permitted except for a designated support person for patients with disabilities. Please speak with the care team about any special circumstances before the visit. Clinical leadership will manage exceptions.
Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center: Companions must be at least 12 years old. We continue to ask that you do not accompany a patient if you have symptoms of illness and that you wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when you enter or leave the clinic, infusion room, or exam room. Requirements may change at any time at the discretion of the care team.
Radiology, Laboratory, and Other Services: Two visitors may accompany the patient and wait in the lounge as space and accommodations permit. An adult must supervise children under 16 at all times. For safety reasons, visitors may not be permitted in exam/procedure rooms.
Outpatient Dental Services
Visitor access remains limited and is outlined below:
- Space constraints may limit the number of visitors or companions present. When space permits, up to two visitors may accompany the patient and wait in the lounge.
- For safety reasons, visitors may not accompany a patient to the exam/procedure areas while treatment is being rendered.
- No one under 18 is permitted in treatment areas unless they are the patient.
- A non-patient adult must supervise children under 16 at all times. For safety reasons, visitors may not be permitted in exam/procedure rooms.
- Masks are optional for clinic visits.
- Please discuss any special circumstances before attending your appointment with your care team.
Special Circumstances
One adult support person may accompany a patient into the treatment area to assist with their special health care or disability needs. If the patient cannot make health care decisions, the individual must be a legally authorized decision-maker.
A parent or legal guardian must accompany patients under 18 for all dental appointments.
Patients receiving intravenous sedation must have a responsible adult transport them to and from appointments. This individual must be immediately available and remain on the premises for the duration of the appointment. This individual may not have minors with them.
Requirements for Patients, Visitors & Companions - All Locations
Safety Measures
Everyone entering UConn Health facilities is still required to follow these basic safety measures:
- If you are experiencing a cough, cold, or any symptoms of respiratory illness, virus, or any infectious disease, please do not visit or accompany a patient.
- Visitors and companions may be restricted for other reasons at the discretion of the care team.
- As a reminder, UConn Health is a smoke and tobacco-free campus. Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all areas, including parking lots, sidewalks, and entrances.
- If visitors refuse to follow these guidelines, they will be asked to leave the facility.
- Extenuating circumstances to the temporary guidelines and individual requests will always be considered based on the best interest and needs of the patient.
Masking
Masks are optional at UConn Health for both patients and visitors. UConn Health may implement masking requirements in specific units, clinics, or departments.
Masks continue to be REQUIRED when:
- You have symptoms that may be due to respiratory illness.
- When masks are required at UConn Health, neck gaiters, bandanas, and masks with exhalation valves are not accepted face masks.
Designated Support Person
As required by law, patients with disabilities who receive care at UConn Health facilities may have a designated support person present throughout their visit to support their disability needs. Patients with disabilities may have one designated support person with them to support their disability-related needs. Patients with disabilities may include, but are not limited to, individuals with altered mental status, physical, intellectual, or cognitive disability, or communication barriers or behavioral concerns. A support person is different from a visitor as they are essential to patient care, communication, autonomy, and equal access to treatment.
- A designated support person may be a family member, personal care assistant, similar disability service provider, or other individual knowledgeable about the management of their care, to physically or emotionally assist them or to ensure effective communication during their stay, provided proper precautions are taken to contain the spread of infection.
- A support person can be a parent of a minor child or a designated person for a patient with a disability.
- The support person must be at least 18 (unless parent/guardian of a minor patient).
- If the patient remains longer than one day, the patient or their family or caregiver may designate two support people, provided only one support person may be present at a time. This restriction must be explained to the patient and support person in plain terms upon or prior to arrival. Staff should ensure that the patient, family, or caregiver fully understands this restriction, allowing the patient to decide who they wish to identify as their support person.
- The support person must comply with all reasonable requirements imposed by UConn Health to minimize the potential spread of infection.
- Other reasonable accommodations are made at the discretion of clinical leadership.
Hospital Entrances - Visitor Check-In
- For proper badging, visitors may enter through the University Tower or Main Building entrances. The Emergency Department (ED) entrance is specifically for emergency patients and visitors, not for general entry. Visitors will be redirected to the appropriate entrance.
- Visitors must register with the Information Desk and provide a valid photo identification.
- Visitors will be issued a temporary badge with their name, photo, department, and date.
- Visitor badge must be worn throughout the visit at UConn Health.
Questions About Our Visitation Guidelines?
If you have questions, you may contact our Patient Relations Department at 860-679-3176 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In the evening, on weekends, and on holidays, please contact the main hospital information number at 860-679-2000 and ask to speak with the Nursing Supervisor.
We appreciate your support in helping us maintain the safety of our patients, colleagues, and our community.