OU Health Visitation Policy as Response to COVID-19
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, OU Health has updated its visitation
policies. Please see the current policies below.
For information on how to stay connected with patients in the hospital,
visit our
Keeping Connected
page.
Oklahoma Children’s Hospital
-
UP TO TWO ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS over the age of 18 are allowed for patients admitted to
Oklahoma Children's Hospital
.
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ONE VISITOR is allowed in the Women’s and Newborn
Labor and Delivery area at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.
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In outpatient and clinical services at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital,
ONE VISITOR IS ALLOWED WITH THE CHILD. This includes patients who are undergoing same-day surgery or procedures,
and those visiting the Emergency Department and hospital-based departments
such as dialysis and radiology.
- Patient/Visitor screening for COVID-19 at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital
will occur at the point-of-service (i.e., clinic, Emergency Department,
radiology, etc.) rather than at the building entrance.
- Entry into Oklahoma Children’s Hospital will be limited to three
main entrance points.
- No one under age 18 may visit Oklahoma Children’s Hospital except
under special circumstances.
- Everyone must wear a mask and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer often
during their visit.
University of Oklahoma Medical Center & OU Health Edmond Medical Center
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No vistors are allowed for patients with COVID-19.
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ONLY ONE ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER is allowed for non-COVID patients in the following areas:
- Inpatient clinical units
- Emergency department
-
No vistors are allowed at:
- Edmond Medical Center's Autumn Life Behavioral Health Center
- Hospital-based clinics and departments, such as dialysis and radiology
- Same-day (outpatient) surgery or procedures
- If an essential caregiver is critical to patient outcomes, for those areas
where visitors are not allowed, he/she must request an exception from
the department director (NOT Security, Executive Assistants, Health Unit
Coordinators, etc.) and then be approved by the Administrator-On-Call (AOC).
- For inpatient surgeries, the essential caregiver may go to pre-op with
the patient, but must return to the patient’s room (if already an
inpatient) or return to their vehicle after the patient goes to surgery(if
coming in day of surgery and room is not ready/available). The essential
caregiver will not be allowed to come-and-go from the hospital during
the patient’s Emergency Department visit or admission.
Designated Essential Caregivers are required to observe certain practices
and policies of the hospital while in the facility:
- Screening is required at entry or point of service.
-
If screening determines the possibility of COVID-19 exposure, or if an
essential caregiver feels unwell or exhibits symptoms,
entry will not be allowed.
- Essential caregivers will be required to sign “Essential Caregiver
Expectations,” an agreement that explains compliant behaviors expected
while in the facility.
-
Essential caregivers are required to wear approved masks at all times,
while in the facility, including patient rooms.
Neck gaiters, buffs, bandanas or scarves are not approved forms of masking. Approved masks are:
-
Cloth mask with
no vents or exhalation valves
- Procedural or surgical-type masks
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Caregivers will stay in the designated patient room at all times, except
for trips to the cafeteria.
Caregivers may not remain in the cafeteria, as available seating is limited to hospital staff only.
- No gatherings are allowed in any public area (lobby, waiting room or other).
-
If it becomes necessary to leave the facility for any reason, the essential
caregiver must request an exception from the
department director only, which is subject to approval by the administrator on call. Further,
screening and signing of the Essential Caregiver Expectations agreement
must be repeated upon reentry.
For adult patients on palliative and hospice care, the visitor policy will
continue to allow physicians to work with families on a case-by-case basis
regarding visitation.
No visitors are allowed at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, OU Health
Physicians clinics in Oklahoma City and Tulsa and OU Health Dentistry.
An exception may be made if an adult escort is necessary due to the patient’s
medical condition. Exceptions must be cleared through the patient’s
clinic or treatment area. Exceptions required the day of should be directed
to the administrator-on-call and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
OU Health Physicians Clinics in Oklahoma City and Tulsa and OU Health Dentistry clinics
Visitor Information
- Upon entry into all OU Health care facilities, patients/visitors will be
asked the patient’s destination and must be verified to be wearing
a mask. Cloth, dust cover or surgical-style masks are allowed. Mask with
valves or “air holes,” buff or gaiters and scarves or bandanas
are not allowed.
- Wear a mask (brought from home or provided by the hospital) at all times.
- Be screened at entry or point of service – whichever is applicable.
Anyone who screens positive will not be able to visit while having symptoms.
- Wash their hands or use hand sanitizer often during their visit.
