OU Health Updates Visitation Policy for Hospitals and Clinics

As conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to change, OU Health has revised its visitation policy.

OU Health understands the emotional support and comfort patients gain when friends and family members visit contribute greatly to the process of healing that restores health. However, it is essential to balance these important needs with the imperative to safeguard the well-being of all patients, their guests as well as staff members.

Effective August 23, all adult patients admitted to OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center or OU Health Edmond Medical Center may be visited by one guest at a time, with a maximum of two guests in any 24-hour period. Adult patients of an OU Health clinic are allowed one guest to accompany them to appointments. This includes clinics on the Oklahoma Health Center campus, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, community and offsite clinics and University of Oklahoma Medical Center clinics. Guests must be over 18 years of age.

Patients who have COVID-19 may not receive visitors. However, patients under 18 years of age who have COVID-19 may have one guest. In addition, the highly vulnerable patients in the Autumn Life geriatric behavioral health unit at OU Health Edmond Medical Center may not have visitors.

At Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health, two designated guests for pediatric or perinatal patients will be allowed during the patient’s hospital stay. Pediatric patients of an OU Health clinic are allowed two guests to accompany them to appointments. This includes clinics on the Oklahoma Health Center campus, community and offsite clinics such as Southwest Pediatrics, Super Ninos, Kids’ First, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital clinics and the OU Health Prenatal Diagnostic Center.

OU Health continues to observe precautions deemed necessary to decrease the potential spread of COVID-19 to staff and patients, therefore, guests of hospital and clinic patients must:

• Be screened for COVID-19 at an entrance or point of service. If screen results are positive, or if guests feel unwell and/or show any symptoms of COVID-19, they will not be allowed to stay.
• Sign to acknowledge acceptance of terms contained in the Guest Expectations form.
• Wear an approved mask at all times while in the facility, including the patient’s room. Acceptable masks include:

• Cloth mask
• Procedural/surgical-type masks
• Neck gaiters, buffs, bandanas, scarves or masks with vents or exhalation valves are not allowed.

• Stay in the patient’s room at all times, unless asked to leave by hospital staff for reasons related to safety or patient care. If asked to leave a patient’s room temporarily, guests will use a designated waiting area until notified by a care team member to return to the patient’s room.
• Understand that failure to comply will require immediate departure; visitor may not return as the guest of a patient. 

Waiting rooms and cafeterias are monitored, and appropriate physical distancing measures will be observed. Hospital guests are discouraged from coming and going throughout the day. If guests leave the hospital, they should discuss a planned return with department leadership.

End-of-life events are uniquely sensitive. Requests for family in-person attendance for a patient care conference require approval from the administrator on call at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital or hospital administration at Edmond Medical Center.

• For all OU Health hospital locations, the department director may approve up to three visitor exceptions for patients nearing end of life.
• Requests outside of these guidelines require approval from the administrator on call at University of Oklahoma Medical Center and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital or hospital administration at Edmond Medical Center.
• Visitors for COVID-19 patients must receive Just-In-Time Fit Testing from clinical coordinators for an N-95 mask and must wear appropriate PPE to include eye protection, gloves and gown while with the patient.