Virginia Mason Medical Center: Patients & Visitors

Effective May 11, 2022

Virginia Mason Medical Center is restricting visitors to the hospital to protect the safety of our patients, their family members, and our care teams due to recent COVID-19 activity in the community. Our priority is the safety and care of our patients, team members, and visitors.

Before you visit: All visitors must comply with screening and mask requirements when entering the building. Visitors with symptoms will not be allowed to enter, and visitors must wear masks for the entirety of their stay.

We understand it is a difficult time for our patients and their loved ones. These restrictions are very important for the health and safety of our patients and staff, and those who do not comply may have visitation access revoked. Please contact the hospital or your medical provider if you have any questions about the visitor policy.

As a response to the current community situation with COVID-19, we are temporarily suspending routine, in-person visits to our hospitalized patients. The decision to suspend hospital visits was difficult and made only after careful consideration.

We encourage family members and friends to use alternative ways to interact with their loved ones, including phone calls, Facetime, Skype and other means.

We recognize there are times when having a visitor or family member present is crucial. Visitors will be allowed based on the exceptions listed below:

• Patients who are determined to be critically unstable.
• Patients admitted to our labor and delivery or postpartum units. One birth support person and one certified doula permitted. Doula must provide proof of certification or business card.
• Patients who are at the end of life.
• Patients undergoing surgery or procedures may have one, single-time visitor immediately after the procedure for 30 minutes in the patient’s room.
• Patients who are receiving care who have a pre-approved care partner as part of their medical treatment team.
• Patients who are minors and those with limited decisional capacity may have one parent or support person present.

Please note, approved visitors are subject to the following guidelines:

• Approved visitors will not be allowed if they have symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath). All visitors will be screened at entry and must be masked at all times in the facility except with food and drink in the Rhododendron Café or Breezeway Coffee Stand.
• Approved visitors will be limited to 60 minutes unless the care team believes a longer visit is in the best interest of the patient (30-minutes for post-op). Visitors must stay in the patient’s room the entire time of the visit. Once the visitor leaves the patient room, they must leave the medical center.
• Visitors under the age of 16 will not be allowed except under extraordinary circumstances.

Changes to outpatient guidelines: Virginia Mason Medical Center is limiting our outpatient companion guidelines as part of our continued desire to protect the safety of our patients, their family members and our care teams. Outpatients are strongly encouraged to attend their appointments alone. Patients who have an appointment at a Virginia Mason clinic, laboratory, radiology, as well as those visiting the Emergency Department, may have one person accompany them, only if necessary.

Cell phone waiting lot: The Terry and University parking lot will be available for companions of clinic or hospital patients who are waiting outside Virginia Mason Medical Center downtown facilities. The Lindeman Pavilion restrooms will also be available to companions while they are waiting.