Effective December 8, 2020
For the safety of our patients and staff, and to lower their likelihood of exposure to any illness including COVID-19, UPMC is temporarily limiting access to our facilities to only patients, identified and approved support persons, staff, and essential vendors.
Our visitation policies are based on information and guidelines from national, state, and local health care officials.
This page will be updated frequently to reflect the latest updates to visitation guidelines at all UPMC locations. Detailed, in-depth information for each location can be found in the expandable sections below.
In addition to restricting visitors, we are following other COVID-19 prevention protocols, including entry screening, facemasks, social distancing, and frequent facility sanitizing.
We encourage you to use FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, and phone calls to virtually visit with loved ones while they are in the hospital. If you need help with this, please let a staff member know.
Support persons are an important element of the care team and help our patients manage and communicate about their care.
Inpatient and outpatient visitation is currently restricted, outlined below. All hospitals and facilities, except UPMC Chautauqua and Western Maryland, will follow these guidelines.
Non-COVID-19 inpatients and outpatients:
Inpatients being tested for or diagnosed with COVID-19:
Obstetrics, pediatric inpatients, labor and delivery (L&D), and NICU inpatients:
Transitional care unit (TCU) patients:
Behavioral health services (UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital and all inpatient behavioral health settings):
UPMC Chautauqua allows one patient support person from 3 to 7 p.m. each day for patients not admitted with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Same Day Procedural and Surgical Patients
One patient support person may accompany the patient into the facility and may remain with the patient until the initial intake process is complete.
Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery (L&D), NICU, and patients with intellectual, developmental, or cognitive disability guidelines:
In accordance with Maryland Governor Hogan's state order issued on Tuesday, Nov. 17, we are restricting support persons and visitors for UPMC Western Maryland inpatients and Emergency Department patients.
Exceptions to this order may be made with the approval of hospital leadership for compassionate care and end-of-life situations, and for patients with disabilities or who require additional support.
Support persons are an essential part of the care team to help our patients manage and communicate about their care. We encourage our patients to use FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, and phone calls to virtually connect with loved ones while they are in the hospital.
Support persons are limited to those essential for the patient’s physical or emotional well-being, and all must comply with the above-mentioned requirements for All Support Persons in All Care Settings, including properly wearing a facemask upon entry and at all times, following distancing guidelines, passing facility entry screening, and being 18 years of age or older.
At each UPMC Senior Communities location, we are gradually begining to resume some on-site visiting hours and communal activities as soon as it is safe to do so. Visit our individual Senior Communities residence websites for location-specific details. We are continuing to evaluate the COVID-19 situation in our community and will share long-term care visitation updates as they become available.
Until each location resumes on-site visitation, visitors will be permitted only in special situations, approved by the facility administrator or designated manager. Special situations may include end-of-life visitation and when a visitor is essential for the resident’s emotional well-being and care.
A staff member will screen special-approved support persons, essential health providers, and vendors for COVID-19 exposure and symptoms at the entrances to UPMC Senior Communities. Screening for transitional care units will take place at hospital entrances.
We recognize the importance of visitation for the well-being of our patients and residents and their loved ones. We encourage virtual visitation by phone and video calls and “window visits,” where available. Our staff will help to coordinate these visits between our residents and their loved ones.
In addition to visitor restrictions, UPMC is temporarily restricting volunteer activities in hospitals and facilities. We are looking to ensure the safety of our volunteers and to protect against the spread of illness, including COVID-19.
We are beginning to safely reintroduce essential, approved volunteers in our hospitals. They will support areas that provide facility safety and positive experiences for patients and staff.
On-site volunteers:
Permitted volunteer activities include:
We will continue to evaluate and update our volunteer protocols as needed.
Providers deemed essential to a patient’s care and wellbeing, and vendors necessary for patient care and/or hospital operations, may enter facilities in some circumstances. Those granted access must follow the same screening guidelines as all permitted visitors.
The following guidelines will apply:
Clergy and Pastoral Care
Hospice and Home Care Providers
Post-Acute Liaisons
Vendors / Dock Deliveries
Other