Visitor Guidelines and Hours
Our primary objective is to ensure the health and safety of all our patients and employees so that we continue to deliver world-class care at our medical center in Orange and all community locations.
UCI Health makes a daily commitment to providing unparalleled care while maintaining the safety of our patients, their families and our healthcare professionals and staff.
Effective Jan. 25, 2023, UCI Medical Center will no longer require visitors to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination, proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test or undergo COVID-19 symptom checks upon check-in.
The following visiting guidelines apply to anyone visiting the inpatient care areas at UCI Medical Center and the Emergency Department.
- Visiting hours: every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Visitors must always wear a mask upon entering a designated patient care area and while in the patient's room for the duration of the visit.
- Two visitors are allowed in a single occupancy room and one visitor in a double occupancy room. Patients with COVID are allowed two visitors from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 24-hour visitation is not permitted for patients with COVID, unless exception is approved through standard exception process.
- Visitor overnight stay: If one of the two visitors of the day chooses to stay or is asked by the patient's clinical team to support the patient by staying overnight, the visitor is expected to check in at the front desk upon arrival and request an overnight badge. If the visitor arrives outside of visiting hours, the front desk will call the unit to confirm the visit is allowed. If a visitor needs to stay a second night, the visitor must return to the front desk the following morning for a new overnight badge. Patients in double-occupancy rooms require unit clinical leadership approval.
- Visitors seeking visits outside of visitation hours still require an exception request approved by a member of the patient's care team.
- End-of-life (EOL)/COVID EOL patients may have two visitors at the bedside and will follow our EOL guidelines (please see below). We strive to ensure that at least one person is with the patient during the entire period (24 hours) so that no patient is alone at the end of their life.
- Visitors staying overnight who have come through the Emergency Department (ED) will be referred to the front desk by the bedside nurse upon patient admission to the unit.
- Pre-op area allows two visitors at the bedside.
- Minors (under 18 years old) are not allowed to visit without an approved exception.
Front desk hours of operation
- Check-in through Guest Services: every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Check-in after hours through Security: every day from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Labor and delivery visitation guidelines
- Labor-and-delivery patients are allowed two visitors per patient once they have been admitted (visitors cannot rotate).
- A certified doula, if the patient desires, is permitted if prior arrangements have been made with the hospital and the doula complies with hospital PPE and infection control guidelines.
- OB triage patients are allowed one visitor when appropriate. Visitors may be directed to the OB waiting room when required to respect patient dignity and privacy.
- Post-partum patients are allowed two visitors per patient (visitors cannot rotate). One partner can stay with the patient 24/7.
NICU Visitation Guidelines
- Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients may have one birth parent (or officially appointed surrogate) plus a support person (two visitors total that will remain the same for the duration of the stay).
- Visitor(s) must remain in the patient's room for the duration of the visit.
- UCI Health NICU leadership and clinical team have the right to evaluate visitation on a case-by-case basis to support the appropriate level of care needed and allow for visitation exceptions.
- Visitors cannot bring balloons, flowers or plants into the unit.
Pediatric Visitation Guidelines
- Pediatric intensive care patients may have two adult visitors, preferably a parent. They must remain in the patient's room for the duration of the visit.
- Children undergoing surgery may have two adult visitors, preferably a parent, wait in the surgery waiting room.
Other locations
Emergency Department (ED)
ED patients are allowed one visitor. For the safety of our patients, visitors and staff, visitors may be asked to wait away from the ED waiting room until the patient or UCI Health staff notifies them to return. Visitors may wait using the benches alongside the parking lot.
Psychiatry
Visitation hours will remain the same as before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adult
- Monday-Friday, 6-8 p.m.
- Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Adolescent
- Monday-Friday, 6-7:30 p.m.
- Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 1-2:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.
The current conditions require limiting the number of visitors to one person per patient in the inpatient unit.
- Total of two visitors in a 24-hour period; they may rotate visits
- Example: Two visitors/one visit for the first hour and second visitor visits for remaining time
UCI Health Outpatient Clinics
The limited visitor policy described above is also applicable at all UCI Health clinics, including Chao Family Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCI Medical Center outpatient pavilions, UCI Health Neuropsychiatric Center, Adult Rehabilitation Center, the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and at all other community locations.
The following exceptions may apply:
- One visitor will be permitted to accompany a patient, as appropriate
- Two visitors (parents/foster parents/guardians) for minors age 14 and under are permitted at clinics
- Other conditions or emergent situations may qualify as an exception as determined by the patient's care team
Questions?
If you need additional information, please call our Office of Patient Experience and Guest Services at 714-456-7606.