Temporary Visitor Restrictions

University of Mississippi Medical Center Temporary Visitor Restrictions September 17, 2020

The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is committed to keeping our patients, staff, students and visitors safe as we continue to respond to the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We are taking measures to prevent the spread of this novel coronavirus at our Jackson-based hospitals (Wiser, Children’s, University and Conerly).

Effective Thursday, September 17 and until further notice, the visitor policy for all Jackson based UMMC hospitals is as follows:

• Adult patients are permitted to have one adult (at least 18 years old) visitor during visitation hours except in the circumstances listed below. Upon admission, up to two designated visitors will be identified to function as part of the patient’s care team. Each day, one of the two identified individuals will be allowed to visit. That is the only person who may visit that patient that day and visitors cannot switch out at any time during a day. The designated visitor can change from day to day, if necessary.
• Regular visitation hours are defined as 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., 7 days a week. Visiting hours for intensive care units are 10:00 a.m. – 02:00 p.m., 7 days a week.
• Patients are allowed to arrive on the day of their scheduled surgery/procedure beginning at 5:15 a.m.

Children’s of Mississippi patients are permitted to be accompanied by two adult parents, guardians or caregivers, with certain restrictions. The Children’s of Mississippi policy can be found here.

Exceptions to the adult patient policy include:

• Visiting hours restrictions do not apply to the following patients:
  • Patients under the age of 21 years old who are receiving care in an adult hospital
  • Adult patients with an appointment at a UMMC procedural unit or visiting the Adult Emergency Department may be accompanied by one visitor who remains in the procedural area during the entirety of the patient’s visit
  • Adult patients, for whom a family member is essential to their care as determined by the patient’s care team
  • Adult patients with altered mental status or developmental delays where a caregiver is necessary to assist
  • Adult patients undergoing surgery or procedures may have one visitor before and during the procedure for both inpatient and outpatient procedures
  • Adult patients assigned to 3 Wiser (Mother-Baby Unit)
• Adult patients determined by the care team to be at the end-of-life may be visited by members of the immediate family and visiting hours restrictions do not apply.
• Visitors are not permitted in adult isolation rooms or any room where a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patient is unless end-of-life visitation is permitted under certain strict limitations.
• Women’s Urgent Care and Labor and Delivery patients may be accompanied by one adult visitor and visiting hours restrictions do not apply.
• Efforts are made to grant requests from a patient or family member for visits from a chaplain, chaplain intern, Eucharistic minister, community clergy or other spiritual advisor.
• Other exceptions are evaluated by hospital leadership on a case-by-case basis.

Patients and visitors entering a hospital facility, including for an appointment at a hospital-based clinic or procedural unit, must use one of two available entrances where they will receive a COVID-19 screening:

• The front entrance of University Hospital (under the overhang facing State Street near Garage A)
• The side entrance to Wiser Hospital for Women and Children (under the overhang facing Garage B)

Armbands are provided to identify approved visitors at the point of entry and must be visibly worn at all times.

Visitors meeting one or more of the criteria below are not allowed to enter under any circumstances:

• One or more of the following:
  • Symptoms:
    • Fever or feeling feverish, chills or sweats
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Sore throat
    • Recently developed loss of taste or smell
    • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Under home isolation order per MSDH or awaiting a COVID-19 test result

Visitors allowed entrance are required to wear a mask, supplied when entering the facility, at all times and should stay in the patient’s room or associated waiting room during the entirety of their visit. To maintain social distancing guidelines of 6 feet or greater, visitors may be asked to leave waiting room spaces. The designated visitor(s) remains the only authorized visitor(s) throughout the patient’s stay or visit. Approved visitors leaving the facility outside of the revised visiting hours are not able to re-enter the hospital until the following day.

We encourage our patient families to visit remotely using telephone or video chat.

Frequent handwashing is required to protect our patients, employees, students and visitors from the spread of germs and viruses.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make efforts to meet the needs of our patients and their support systems, while continuing to take steps to limit exposure and spread of COVID-19.

To view the policy for Jackson-based hospitals, click here. To view the policy for UMMC Grenada and Holmes County, click here. To view the policy for Children's of Mississippi, click here.