Temporary Visitor Restrictions

University of Mississippi Medical Center Temporary Visitor Restrictions Effective March 31, 2021

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 Wednesday, March 31, 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 at a time during visitation hours except in the circumstances listed below. Upon admission, up to two designated visitors can be identified to function as part of the patient’s care team. Only one of the two designated visitors may be inside the hospital at a time. Switching patient visitors must be done at approved hospital entrances and must be coordinated through the safety screener on duty.
• Adult patients being cared for in University and Wiser hospitals are allowed to have their designated visitor for that day remain with the patient after regular visitation hours, including staying overnight.
• The designated visitor can change to the other previously listed care provider the following day, if desired.
• Regular visitation hours are defined as 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 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.
• Overnight visitors are not allowed to leave a hospital and return outside of regular visitation hours. If an overnight visitor exits a hospital after 7 p.m., they will not be allowed re-entry until 10 a.m. the next day.
• 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:

• Adult patients determined by the care team to be at the end-of-life may be visited by members of the immediate family. Visiting hours and age restrictions do not apply.
• Visitors are not permitted in adult isolation rooms or any room where a patient with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive status is located unless end-of-life visitation is permitted under certain strict limitations.
• 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 four 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 front entrance of Children’s of Mississippi-Sanderson Tower (under the overhang facing Woodrow Wilson near Garage C)
• The side entrance to Wiser Hospital for Women and Children (under the overhang facing Garage B)
• The front entrance to University Physicians Pavilion

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 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 two designated visitors remain the only authorized visitors 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 UMMC Grenada and Holmes County, click here. To view the policy for Children's of Mississippi, click here.