OU Health Visitation Policy as Response to COVID-19

OU Health Visitation Policy as Response to COVID-19
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, OU Health has updated their visitation policies. As Oklahoma begins its recovery efforts, OU Health hospitals have revised their visitation policies, to:

• UP TO TWO ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS over the age of 18 are now allowed for patients admitted to Oklahoma Children's Hospital.
• ONE DESIGNATED CAREGIVER is allowed in the Emergency Department or with patients hospitalized in an acute care area at OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center and OU Health Edmond Medical Center.
• NO VISITORS are allowed for patients in adult clinics, inpatient geriatric behavioral health, dialysis, ambulatory, procedural or outpatient areas. AN ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER OR PATIENT REPRESENTATIVE may be pre-approved for these areas under extenuating circumstances.
• No visitors are allowed at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, OU Health Physicians clinics in Oklahoma City and Tulsa and OU Health Sciences Center clinical facilities in the College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Dentistry, College of Allied Health.

Policies that will remain in place include:

• Large groups of people in lobbies, waiting rooms and other public areas of the hospital will not be allowed.
• One caregiver over the age of 18 will continue to be allowed for patients who have an appointment at OU Health Physicians pediatric clinics or outpatient appointments for other needs.
• For adult patients on palliative and hospice care, the policy will continue to allow physicians to work with families on a case-by-case basis regarding visitation.

For information on how to stay connected with patients in the hospital, visit our Keeping Connected page.

OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center & OU Health Edmond Medical Center Visitor Guidelines for Adult Care

At OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center and OU Health Edmond Medical Center, one designated caregiver is now allowed for adult patients in the Emergency Department or hospitalized in an acute care area. This person will be required to stay in the patient’s hospital room for the duration of the visit or develop a plan with the unit director if it is not possible to stay the entire duration of the hospitalization. The caregiver must immediately leave the hospital upon leaving the patient’s room and avoid groups of 10 or more people, practice masking and social distancing when outside of the hospital. He or she will be re-screened if returning to the hospital.

Edmond Medical Center visiting hours for inpatients are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

No visitors are allowed for patients in clinics, inpatient geriatric behavioral health, dialysis, ambulatory, procedural and outpatient areas. An essential caregiver or patient representative may be pre-approved for these visits under extenuating circumstances, including:

• The caregiver or representative is critical to achieve outcomes for patient care.
• The patient’s care team requests the individual take part in essential caregiver training for patient education or if a patient needs rehabilitation or help with cognitive needs.
• The patient presents with cognitive impairment, disruptive behavior, behavioral health issues, altered mental status, developmental delays or safety concerns, and the caregiver is key to their care or necessary to provide a patient history.
• Trauma or end-of-life circumstances (number of people may vary and is at the discretion of the hospital administrator on-call).

An essential caregiver/patient representative is defined as a:

• Person who is legally authorized to make decisions for the patient.
• Personal care assistant for an individual with disabilities.
• Disability service provider.

Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Visitor Guidelines for Pediatric Care

Oklahoma Children’s Hospital at OU Health will allow up to two designated caregivers over the age of 18 to visit an admitted patient at the same time. The designated caregivers must remain the same for the duration of the patient’s stay.
Other elements of the visitation policy at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital include:

• Patients undergoing same-day surgery/procedures, those visiting the Emergency Department, and those who have an appointment in an outpatient/clinic setting may have one person over the age of 18 come and stay with them throughout their time at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.

• Entry into Oklahoma Children’s Hospital will be limited to three main entrance points.
• Patients who have an appointment at an OU Health Physicians pediatric clinic may have one person over the age of 18 come for their visit.
• Anyone under the age of 18 may not visit Oklahoma Children’s Hospital except under special circumstances.
• All visitors are required to wear a mask (brought from home or provided by the hospital) at all times.
• Patients over the age of two should wear a mask while outside their rooms and while providers/staff are present.
• Any visitor who screens positive will not be able to visit while having symptoms.
• EVERYONE must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer often during their visit.
• Public lobbies and dining hall seating will remain closed to promote social distancing.

Visitor Information

While in the hospital, all visitors must:

• 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.