Visiting Hours and Policy

EFFECTIVE MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2022:

Masking

Clinics:

• Masking is optional at some Methodist Health System clinics.
• When visiting a Methodist Clinic – please be mindful of the posted signage indicating if a mask is required.
• Our staff are also happy to assist and provide clarification.

Hospitals and Clinics within Acute Care Hospitals:

• All adult and child visitors/support persons will continue to be screened and must be capable of wearing well-fitted, hospital-grade, multilayer procedural masks.
• Fabric masks, gaiters, vented masks, face shields and bandanas are not allowed.
• Fabric masks over surgical masks and nonvented N95/KN95 masks may be allowed.
• Appropriate masks will be provided at entrances.

Visitors and Support Persons

Clinics:

• There are no restrictions on the number of support persons allowed to accompany a patient at Methodist Physicians Clinics, Hospital-Owned Clinics and Outpatient Diagnostics.

Hospitals:

• There are no restrictions on the number of visitors who may visit non-COVID patients during regular visiting hours. Visitors may access all public areas and do not need to leave the hospital immediately after visiting patients.
• Lab-confirmed COVID-positive patients will be permitted to have up to two visitors at a time during regular visiting hours. Visitors should not access public areas during or after their visit and should leave the hospital after visiting the patient.
• In Surgical Care Settings, two support persons are permitted in the waiting areas during regular visiting hours at hospital locations.

Emergency Departments:

• The Emergency Department (ED) allows up to two visitors/support persons to stay with an ED patient.

Critical Care, NICU and Other Specialty Units:

• Critical care, NICU and other specialty units may have additional visitor-specific guidelines.
• In Inpatient Behavioral Health Settings, two adult support persons per day are permitted.

Exceptions

• Patients receiving end-of-life care as determined by the care team are an exception to the policies above.
• Additional exceptions may be discussed with the facility's administrative personnel or infection prevention experts.

FOR LOCATION SPECIFIC VISITING HOURS AND POLICIES, SELECT FROM THE OPTIONS BELOW.