Visitation

Effective February 23, 2024

Patients and visitors are encouraged to wear masks, particularly if they have symptoms of respiratory illness and when they are visiting an admitted patient with a respiratory illness. At caregiver discretion, patients and visitors may be asked to wear a mask. If they do not comply with masking when asked to do so, they may be asked to leave.

Welcome to UMass Memorial Medical Center

Having loved ones at the bedside to offer support and be a partner in the healing process is a top priority. While you are visiting your loved ones, we ask that all patients and visitors follow our policies and procedures outlined below.

All visitors must check in using the visitor kiosk. Visitors are also able to complete an online pre-screen to expedite the time spent at the kiosk. After pre-screening, visitors will get a QR code that they can bring to a kiosk to receive their visitor badge for the day.

Visiting Hours:

10 am – 8 pm (7 days a week)

Virtual Communication Options

View tips for virtually connecting with loved ones.

Spanish Version

Given the very difficult nature of the current visitor restrictions, we have virtual communication options available to support you in staying connected. We encourage patients and their loved ones to keep in contact by phone, video communication or text, and if there’s any barrier, we ask that you discuss with your care team.

All inpatients

View our helpful guide on how to connect virtually.

Spanish Version

The Companionship Wellness Program:

In response to the present COVID-19 pandemic, UMass Medical & Nursing School student volunteers will be offering Virtual Wellness Visits for hospitalized patients experiencing loneliness and/or social isolation.

Telehealth Video Visits:

Patients and their loved ones can use these instructions to place a video call using the Caregility app our UMass Memorial iPads.

For more information, please refer to our guides:

Visitor Procedures By Area as of May 11, 2023

Adult Inpatient

  • Adult patients are permitted unrestricted visitation with no limit on the number of visitors at the bedside, with consideration given to the environment and caregiver’s ability to provide safe, high quality care.
  • Visitors under the age of 18 may be permitted to visit under specific circumstances. Visitors under the age of 18, if permitted, must be accompanied by an adult. Visitors under the age of 14, when the patient is currently in the ICU, requires prior approval from the Nurse Manager.

Ambulatory (Outpatient) Areas

All ambulatory clinic appointments are permitted unrestricted visitation with no limit on the number of visitors or persons accompanying the patient to an appointment, with consideration given to the environment and caregiver’s ability to provide safe, high quality care.

Exceptions to unrestricted visitation include:

  • Patients seen on ACC floors 5 and 6, as well as Radiation Oncology are permitted 1 visitor at a time.
  • COVID-19 Treatment Center patients may be permitted a visitor if approved for an exception by the clinic.

Emergency Department

Adult Patients:

  • Adult patients in a room are permitted 2 visitors at the bedside at a time. Visitors are permitted to swap out if clinically supported.
  • Adult patients in a hallway are permitted 1 visitor at the bedside at a time. Visitors are permitted to swap out if clinically supported.
  • Visitors under the age of 18 may be permitted to visit under specific circumstances, and we encourage visitors to find supervision for children under the age of 12. Any visitors under the age of 18, if permitted, must be accompanied by an adult.

Pediatric Patients:

  • Pediatric patients are permitted 2 visitors that are parents, guardians or caregivers only (age 18 years or above) or an adult support person in place of parent or guardian.
  • Pediatric patients arriving with a single parent/guardian and minor siblings will never be denied care, but every effort must be made to find alternative arrangements for siblings as soon as possible.

There are no visitor or age restrictions for CMO Patients.

Maternity Center

Laboring patients:

  • The patient presenting for delivery, or concern for delivery, may have one designated support person and a doula stay with the patient throughout labor and delivery.
  • One additional visitor can visit at a time. 

Antepartum patients:

  • The patient may have one designated support person that can stay with the patient throughout the antepartum stay.
  • Patients are permitted unrestricted visitation during visitation hours with no limit on the number of visitors at the bedside, with consideration given to the environment and caregiver’s ability to provide safe, high quality care.
  • Children under the age of 18 may visit when accompanied by an adult.

Post-partum patients:

  • After delivery, one designated support person can stay with the patient throughout the hospitalization.
  • Patients are permitted unrestricted visitation during visitation hours with no limit on the number of visitors at the bedside, with consideration given to the environment and caregiver’s ability to provide safe, high quality care.
  • Children under the age of 18 may visit when accompanied by an adult. 

Pediatric Inpatient, Pediatric ICU (PICU)

  • The patient may have one parent or designated support person stay with the patient overnight through the hospitalization.
  • Patients are permitted unrestricted visitation during visitation hours with no limit on the number of visitors at the bedside, with consideration given to the environment and caregiver’s ability to provide safe, high quality care.
  • Children under the age of 18 may visit when accompanied by an adult.

Neonatal ICU (NICU)

  • Parents/guardians are not considered visitors. They are partners in the care of their infant. They are identified through a standardized banding process.
  • Visitors are permitted in the NICU and must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
  •  Visitors are permitted in the NICU and must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
    • They must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times. It is strongly recommended that all visitors are up to date on all vaccinations per AAP guidelines.  Younger siblings who have been discharged from the NICU (i.e., multiples) may return to the NICU to visit their inpatient counterpart at any age.

  • During respiratory viral season (effective October 10, 2023), anyone entering the NICU must wear a mask at all times. Children under 2 years of age or anyone that is unable to wear a mask is not allowed in the NICU but can visit in the family waiting room.

Psychiatry

Limited inpatient visitors will be allowed.

Surgical Areas

  • No visitors or designated support persons will be allowed in the operating room or procedural room during the procedure. The exception to this is in Maternity Center ORs where the designated support person is allowed in the operating suite for delivery.
  • A visitor or designated support persons will be escorted in and out of the SACU, PACU or short stay by Medical Center staff. 
  • A visitor or designated support persons will be permitted to be with the patient before surgery/procedure and when they are awake post-surgery/procedure.
  • If there is no one at the waiting room reception desk, visitors or designated support persons are to be directed to call the number posted on the phone at the waiting area desk.
  • Only one visitor or designated support persons is allowed at the bedside at a time.