UC Health has implemented new visitor restrictions at our two acute care hospitals, UC Medical Center and West Chester Hospital.
U.C. HEALTH UPDATE: Amanda Nageleiser, Director of Media Relations
CINCINNNATI, OH, Thursday, March 19, 2020, 9:28 P.M – UC Health has implemented new visitor restrictions at our two acute care hospitals, UC Medical Center and West Chester Hospital.
Some of these are new, while some were already in place:
MONDAY: Entrance screenings implemented at UC Medical Center and West Chester Hospital for all visitors.
FRIDAY: No visitation policy announced for all of Daniel Drake Center for Post-Acute Care and Bridgeway Pointe, and in the Emergency Departments at UC Medical Center.
UC Health Inpatient Visitor Restrictions:
Effective immediately, UC Health’s two acute care hospitals will implement enhanced visitor restrictions:
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
- Patients will be asked at admission to name 1 or 2 preferred visitors for the duration of their stay.
- Only 1 visitor at a time will be allowed.
- Approved visitors will be permitted between 5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. at UC Medical Center and 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at UCMC Ridgeway, except for:
o No visitors for psychiatry patients.
o No visitors for patients under investigation for or diagnosed with COVID-19.
o No visitors are permitted in the Emergency Department.
- All visitors will be screened for symptoms of respiratory illness upon arrival:
o Screening will include: cough, temperature greater than 100.4, shortness of breath, travel outside the US and recent close contact with someone ill or with COVID-19.
- Those who DO NOT pass the screening will be directed to go home and contact their primary care physician.
- Those who DO pass the screening will be sent to the Information Desk for identity confirmation and to pick up a visitor pass that will expire in 15 hours.
West Chester Hospital
- 1 visitor per 24 hour period. Access to the hospital is available between 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. through front door. Between 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. access is available through the ED front desk.
- No visitors are permitted for patients under investigation for COVID-19 or those with confirmed COVID-19.
- No visitors are allowed in the Emergency Department.
- All visitors will be screened for COVID-19 or flu symptoms, as well as other potential exposure.
o Screening will include: cough, temperature greater than 100.4, shortness of breath, travel outside the US and recent close contact with someone ill or with COVID-19.
- Those who DO NOT pass the screening will be directed to go home and contact their primary care physician.
- Those who DO pass the screening, visitors will sign in and out at the unit desk.
Visitors are encouraged to use video chat on their personal devices to connect patients with other friends or family who are not permitted to visit.
Daniel Drake Center for Post-Acute Care and Bridgeway Pointe have previously stopped allowing visitors due to their patient populations.
This update and date-stamped previous updates are available on our COVID-19 website, https://www.uchealth.com/en/
