Patient Visitation

Visiting Guidelines and Overnight Stays

The hospital has an open visitation policy – you may visit at any time.

1. The number of visitors per patient is dependent on the patient, family, or guardian’s request; the patient’s medical, emotional, and psychological needs; the level of unit activity; and available space.
2. We ask family to stay in the patient’s room or waiting rooms at all times, rather than waiting in hallways, to ensure privacy and confidentiality for all of our patients.
3. The hospital staff may ask visitors to step out of the patient’s room when a medical procedure needs to be performed. This is done for patient safety and privacy. The nurse will notify the family when they can return to the room.
4. After admission into the hospital, if the patient has a large family, the nurse will seek to identify a primary family spokesperson to be the main contact between the nursing staff, family, and friends. This partnership will allow the family best access to the patient – and more importantly, support the patient by including the family as part of the caregiver team. The family spokesperson will help take phone calls regarding the patient’s condition and work with us to plan individual visiting guidelines for that patient.
5. The patient’s designated visitors will be provided a security code to use when inquiring about the patient.
6. Children under the age of 12 should remain with an adult at all times. All visiting children must stay under the supervision of an adult family member to ensure a safe and restful environment for the patient(s). There may be patient care areas in the hospital where visitation by children is not encouraged due to infection prevention risk (e.g., Bone Marrow Transplant, Transplant, and Neonatal ICU). Please make prior arrangements with your care team in order to arrange visitation of children under 12 in these units. For visitors 17 years old and younger, overnight stays are not permitted unless authorized by UTSW Hospital Operations.
7. Visitation of patients with active COVID-19 infection is permitted so long as the visit is coordinated with the patient’s care team.
   - No more than three (3) visitors are allowed at the patient’s bedside at any given time. Rotating visitation is permitted.
   - Visitors are encouraged to only visit the patient room. They should minimize their time spent in other locations within the facility.
   - Visitors are encouraged to wear a mask, and appropriate PPE upon entering the patient’s room and complete hand hygiene upon entering and exiting the patient’s room.
8. Please refrain from bringing outside food, flowers, or live plants into the ICU.
9. Remember to wash your hands upon entering and exiting your loved one’s room. Visitors must follow all directions regarding use of gowns, gloves, and masking. Please check with your care team before visiting patients in isolation rooms.
10. Please do not visit if you are ill, have a cough, or fever.
11. Only one visitor is permitted to stay overnight.

PLEASE NOTE: All guests in the hospital after 10 p.m. are required to wear a wrist band. You may obtain a wrist band from Guest and Patient Services after 7 p.m. Guest and Patient Services is located on the first floor of the hospital.

UT Southwestern University Hospitals prohibits discrimination in visitation based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Patients can designate the visitor(s) of their choice.