Visitor Guidelines and Hours

Guidelines for UCI Medical Center and related UCI Health locations

Per gift shop policy, please remember that visitors cannot bring balloons, flowers or plants into the ICU/NICU. View the Robert R. & Margaret L. Sprague Gift Shop page ›

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.

Effective Jan. 25, 2023, UCI Medical Center no longer requires 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.  

• If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, please do not visit until you are feeling better:
  • Fever (equal or greater than 100 degrees)
  • Vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
  • Coughing or sneezing
  • Fever with rash
• If you have recently had COVID-19 or flu, delay your visit until you are symptom-free. For COVID-19, do not visit for at least 5 days from the start of your symptoms and you must always mask if you are visiting between 6-10 days after your symptoms began.
• Visitors may be required to wear a mask for the protection of the patient. Visitors must wear a mask while in the patient's room if there is a sign on the door that indicates mask is required; or if the staff instructs you to wear a mask.
• Please use the alcohol foam dispenser to perform hand hygiene when you enter and exit the patient room.

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.

Visitor Access Policy

UCI Health has established a Visitor Access policy that supports the principles of Relationship-Based Care while ensuring the safety and welfare of the patient. UCI Health acknowledges and supports a healing environment that is enhanced by Relationship-Based Care. The presence and subsequent participation of the significant other, family, and other support systems at the bedside can enhance the patient experience and lead to improved patient outcomes.

• The number of visitors at any time will be determined in collaboration with the patient and their family or support person. In instances where the room is shared, incorporating the input from the other patient and their family or support person will occur. 
• Visitation Rights include the right to receive the visitors designated by the patient, including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including same-sex domestic partner), a member of the clergy, another family member, or a friend. Also included is the right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time.

A family member, friend, or other individual will be allowed to be present with the patient for emotional support during the patient's stay. The presence of a support individual of the patient's choice, unless the individual's presence infringes on other's rights, and safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated is a patient's right. The individual may or may not be the patient's surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative. Visitors are allowed to be present without regard to their age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.

• The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends that at least two visitors be allowed for the following types of patients:
  • Labor and Delivery patients (a doula is an addition to the two visitors)
  • Pediatric patients
  • Patient at end of life
  • Patients with a physical, intellectual, and or developmental disability and cognitive impairments
  • Surgery patients
• Identification
  • UCI Health patients will wear the hospital issued Identi-band at all times.
  • Visitors will wear the hospital issued identity badge at all times.
    • Upon entering the hospital, all visitors will be required to sign in at the reception area
    • After sign-in, a visitor badge will be issued.
    • Visitor access will be limited to the public areas of the hospital.
• Overnight stay:
  • In order to ensure a quiet environment for all patients, late night or overnight visitation will be limited to the patient's designated visitor, with the exception of the following situation, including but not limited to: Death is imminent or at the request of healthcare staff.
• Infection control:
  • To protect patients and visitors from illness and infection, handwashing and isolation procedures shall be followed.
• Children sixteen or under:
  •  Well children are welcome to visit but must be supervised by an adult visitor.
• Visitors who exhibit behaviors that compromise safety, or the healing environment, may be limited or restricted pursuant to our policy "Management of Aggressive/Disruptive Behavior."

Guest Services staff and/or a public safety ambassador will be stationed at the hospital entrances 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hospital-provided identifiers will be issued to visitors as they enter the hospital. If staff identifies sick visitors, they will ask them to refrain from visiting until they are well to prevent further risk to the patients and staff.

All UCI Health staff should direct visitors not wearing hospital identifiers to the reception area at the entrances to the hospital.

Guidelines for UCI Health – Fountain Valley

• Patient visitation hours: 24 hours, 7 days per week.
• Number of visitors allowed: Two (2) visitors per patient. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the unit nursing director or the house supervisor if the department director is not available. 
• Face Masks: Visitors may consider wearing a mask based on their preference and comfort level; face masks will be made available to visitors if needed.
• Hand Hygiene: Visitors must perform hand hygiene upon hospital entry and upon leaving the patient room

An exception to any limited visitation policy at the hospital is patients with disabilities who require support from family members or staff in order for them to effectively communicate with medical personnel or otherwise receive equal access to medical treatment.

Guidelines for UCI Health – Lakewood

Effective Saturday, January 8, 2022, all visitors must show proof of being fully vaccinated AND boosted OR provide documentation of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours or a negative antigen test within 24 hours of entering our facility.
 
For visitors who return for multiple consecutive days to visit, proof of a negative test will be required every third day.

Guidelines for UCI Health – Los Alamitos

• Patient visitation hours: 24 hours, 7 days per week.
• Number of visitors allowed: Two (2) visitors per patient. Visitors under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Please be mindful of the need for quiet time and patient rest. If you are sick or not feeling well, please visit virtually or at another time.

Guidelines for UCI Health – Placentia Linda

• Patient Visitation Hours: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, 7 days per week
• Emergency Department: two (2) visitors per patient
• Outpatient Procedures/Elective Surgery: two (2) visitors per patient
• Inpatient – NON-COVID: two (2) visitors per patient
• Inpatient – COVID Positive or Patient Under Investigation: one (1) visitor per patient
• Imaging Center: Visitors are permitted
• Face Masks: Visitors may consider wearing a mask based on their preference and comfort level; facemasks will be made available to visitors if needed.
• Hand Hygiene: Visitors must perform hand hygiene upon hospital entry and upon leaving the patient room.

Questions?

If you need additional information, please call our Office of Patient Experience and Guest Services at 714-456-7606 or our public safety team at 714-456-5493.

Please note that visitor policy may change at any time without prior notice. UCI Health reserves the right to make exceptions to the visitor policy under special circumstances. Visitors may be asked to leave the facility if they are not following the above policy or are not complying with general hospital visitation policy.