To help prevent the spread of infection, visitors:

• Must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer every time they enter or exit a patient room.
• Visitors may be asked to wear a mask if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or flu. Appropriate medical masks are provided throughout the building. Visitors are encouraged to wear their mask inside the patient room, especially for patients who are considered immunocompromised.
• Should limit the number of personal items brought into any UK HealthCare facility to reduce the transmission of germs. All patients will be provided necessities needed during their stay.
  • Additionally, no latex balloons are allowed and flowers are prohibited in ICU areas.
  • Remember that UK HealthCare is a drug-, tobacco- and weapons-free campus. 
• Visitors must adhere to our policies, including our behavioral expectations. Failure to do so could result in visitation privileges being taken away.
  Please see our behavioral expectations here.

Entry & exit requirements

• Visitors may be asked to step out of the patient room or clinic room by the care team so that a procedure can be performed on the patient. Visitors will be required to wait in an approved waiting area.
• Visitors are discouraged from leaving the facility to smoke. Visitors who frequently exit the building to smoke may not be permitted to re-enter.  Please talk to our healthcare staff about smoking cessation options.

Adult patients (non-COVID)

• The number of visitors allowed at bedside may vary and is decided in collaboration with the care team, patient and family. Visitors may switch out but should limit the number of times entering/exiting the building.
• Children (under age 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcome. Rules may be modified and are at the discretion of the care team.
  • One visitor is allowed to stay overnight.

Pediatric patients (non-COVID)

• Up to two parents/legal guardians may stay with the patient throughout their stay.
• The number of visitors allowed at bedside may vary and is decided in collaboration with the care team, patient and family. Visitors may switch out but should limit the number of times entering/exiting the building.
• Visitation to units serving immunocompromised patients may be limited or suspended.
• Children (under age 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcome. Rules may be modified and are at the discretion of the care team.

Adult patients (COVID-positive or under investigation)

• One visitor at a time.
• Visitors should remain in the patient’s room and should not visit any other locations in the facility.
• Visitors will be asked to wear appropriate PPE in the room, including mask, gown and gloves.
• Eating or drinking in isolation rooms is discouraged, as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.
• Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care or other compassionate care situations.

Pediatric patients (COVID-positive or under investigation)

• Up to two parents/legal guardians may accompany and stay with the patient for the length of the hospital stay (including overnight).
• Parents/guardians should remain in the patient’s room and should not visit any other locations in the facility.
• Parents/guardians will be asked to wear appropriate PPE in the room, including mask, gown and gloves.
• Eating or drinking in isolation rooms is discouraged for parents/legal guardians who do not spend entirety of isolation in the room, as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.

Adult Emergency Department (ED)

Up to three visitors at a time – typically immediate family – may accompany an adult emergency department patient. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Children (under age 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcome. Modifications may apply and are at the discretion of the care team.

Pediatric Emergency Department

One or two parents or guardians and two grandparents will be allowed to accompany pediatric patients unless the attending physician has a reason to limit. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Children (under age 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcome. Modifications may apply and are at the discretion of the care team.

Obstetric (OB) patients

OB patients may have one birth-support person with them during delivery, and up to two visitors (support person does not count as a visitor) for a total of three people. Additional rules will be in place for OB patients who are COVID-positive/results-pending.

Behavioral Health Units

The number of visitors allowed at bedside may vary and is decided in collaboration with the care team, patient and family. Upon admission, patients/parents/guardians will be given specific guidelines for visiting a behavioral health unit.

• To reduce the spread of infection, we recommend only 2 visitors in a patient’s room at a time. The number of visitors allowed will be decided in collaboration with the patient, care team and family and may vary. During times of infectious disease outbreaks in the community or hospital, additional visitor rules may apply.
• One visitor will be allowed to stay overnight.
• One visitor is allowed for each COVID-positive patient.
• Children (under 18) who are supervised by an adult are welcome in most units. Rules may be modified at the discretion of the care team. We know young children may not be able to handle long visits, but we support these visits knowing they can be very important to patients.
• Visitors are encouraged to wear a mask when in the patient room.
• Visitors may wait in the waiting area.
• To avoid the spread of illness, family and friends are encouraged to consider virtual visits and phone calls as an alternative to in-person visits. iPad visitation is available upon request, and video visitation is possible in many ICU areas. Phone calls and other virtual visits are encouraged.

Adult patients

• We encourage patients to limit the number of visitors accompanying them for surgery or other invasive procedures.
• One visitor is allowed for adult patients in Pre-Op and PACU (post-operative anesthesia care) locations.

Pediatric patients

• We encourage patients to limit the number of visitors accompanying them for surgery or other invasive procedures.
• One or two parents/guardians may accompany the pediatric patient in procedural areas, including pre-op and PACU.

Clergy visitation

Community clergy and spiritual leaders may make routine visits to their hospitalized congregants and parishioners who are hospitalized. The UK HealthCare chaplain staff remains available to provide spiritual support to any patient at any time.

Morgue visitation

Morgue visitation will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact pastoral care pages for exception (859) 330-1520.

Pet visitation

Pet therapy is available for inpatient non-COVID rooms. Please contact your care team or volunteer services for more details.

Adult & pediatric outpatient visits

• The number of people welcomed into clinic exam and waiting areas will vary depending on room size, patient condition and number of people in the clinic.
• To help maintain social distancing and limit the spread of respiratory illnesses, additional restrictions, up to no visitors, may be applied. Rules may vary by location based on the size of available waiting areas. Before your visit, please contact your clinic to verify current visitor rules.

Markey Cancer Center outpatient clinics

We encourage patients to limit the number of visitors they bring to appointments. The number of people welcomed into clinic exam and waiting areas will vary depending on room size, patient condition and number of people in the clinic, and flu/COVID community transmission levels.

• We encourage no more than one to two support people to accompany a patient to an appointment at Markey Cancer Center due to increased risk to patients with weakened immune systems.
• Please contact your clinic ahead of time to verify their current visitation rules.

Outpatient infusion

We encourage no more than one support person join a patient at an infusion appointment because of increased risk to immunocompromised patients.

We encourage patients and visitors to limit the number of people accompanying them inside UK HealthCare facilities.

If a patient is COVID-19 positive, or does not pass COVID-19 screening, they should call ahead to coordinate with pharmacy or medical records personnel.

• Pavilion A Pharmacy: 859-218-3340
• Kentucky Clinic Pharmacy: 859-323-0238
• Good Samaritan Pharmacy: 859-218-4777
• Turfland Pharmacy: 859-257-5899

Financial services is not on-site. They do not accept walk-ins or appointments and should be contacted at 859-323-9898.

Cafeterias are open to both employees and visitors.

Outside food and food deliveries are discouraged. If food is delivered, it must be picked up at the main entrances. Employees and visitors are expected to meet the drivers at the entrances. Food should not be unattended in the lobby and is subject to be thrown away if left unattended.

For updated information on our visitation policy please call our Information Desk team at 859-323-5816.

We appreciate your patience and understanding. These guidelines are in place to keep our patients, their families and our staff safe. Thank you for entrusting UK HealthCare with your medical care.