Visitor guidelines

Updated 11/6/2023

At Dell Children’s, patients and families are at the core of delivering Relationship-Based Care. Patients receive care across our hospitals, emergency departments, surgical services, and outpatient services areas in partnership with families. These relationships are important to the health, healing, and well-being of Dell Children’s patients.

Our visitation guidance is unique in different areas of the hospitals and outpatient areas to allow us to provide a safe environment, high-quality care, and positive experiences when and where our patients need us. Details of our visitation guidance across our campuses are reviewed below. Visitation changes will occur when conditions, such as a rise in respiratory illnesses in our community, indicate the need to ensure the health and safety of our patients, families, and associates.

Thank you for allowing Dell Children’s to care for you and your family!

Visitation overview

• All parents, legal guardians, siblings, and visitors should be healthy (without symptoms of respiratory infection such as runny nose, cough, fever, sore throat) and will be screened upon entry to the facility.
• After screening, all visitors will be provided a sticker. A white sticker indicates the visitor has no signs or symptoms of respiratory illness. A green sticker indicates the visitor did not pass or refused screening and masking is required while on campus.
• Hands must be cleaned with soap and water or hand sanitizer before and after visiting.
• Dell Children’s facilities are Drug, Alcohol, and Smoke-Free. Weapons are not permitted on our campuses. No verbally threatening, abusive, or disruptive language is permitted. We have zero tolerance for any acts of violence or threats of violence.
• Parents and or legal guardians are not considered visitors, they are an important part of the care team and are welcome in the hospital at any time. Siblings are welcome at Dell Children’s with some limitations based on where the patient is receiving care. Visitors include friends, clergy members, and others you may invite to visit the patient. Extended family members and close friends, including patient partners, are considered visitors, not guardians or siblings.
• All minors must be accompanied at all times by an adult, who is not the patient, in all areas of Dell Children’s campuses.
• The visitation guidance will remain the same during national holidays unless otherwise communicated.

Visitor hours and entry

Hospital visitation hours: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

For visitation of hospitalized patients, all visitors should enter through the main entrance when open. To create a healing environment for our patients we encourage visitors to arrange their time at the hospital with the patient and family before arriving.

The Main Entrance at all hospital campuses is open from 5:30 am - 9:00 pm. Parents and guardians may use the Emergency Department entrance for access when the main entrance is closed.

Outpatient Services opening and closing times are unique to each area. Please contact the office you will be seeing for more information.

Guidance for hospitalized patients

For 3 South, 3 Central, 3 North, 4 South, 4 North, 3 East, 4 East, the Specialized Delivery Unit, and North Campus Acute Care

• Four (4) visitors, including parents or legal guardians, are allowed in the room at the same time.
• Siblings who are 6 years of age and over may visit. 
• A maximum of two (2) parents or legal guardians can stay overnight with the hospitalized patient.
  • To ensure the safety of our patients and the patients’ siblings, no siblings may stay overnight in the hospital other than those who are breastfeeding.
  • Visitors may not stay overnight in the hospital.
  • Parents and legal guardians may designate another adult family member to stay overnight in their place if they choose.

For the Pediatric Intensive Care Units (2 East and North campus), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Care Unit (2 North/2 Central) and Intermediate Care Unit (4 East)

• Two (2) visitors, including parents or legal guardians, can be in the patient room at a time.
• Siblings who are 15 years of age and over may visit.
• A maximum of two (2) parents or legal guardians can stay overnight with the hospitalized patient.
  • To ensure the safety of our patients and the patients’ siblings, no siblings may stay overnight in the hospital.
  • Siblings who are breastfeeding may be provided an exception by the unit manager or director if the patient's condition allows. 
  • Visitors may not stay overnight in the hospital.
  • Parents and legal guardians may designate another adult family member to stay overnight in their place if they choose.

For ALL patients on isolation precautions:

• Two (2) parents or legal guardians may be in the patient room at a time and can stay overnight with the patient.
  • The two (2) parents or legal guardians at Dell Children’s should stay in the room and not go to public areas in the hospital (i.e. nutrition rooms, cafeterias) until isolation is stopped.
  • No other visitors are allowed while a patient is on isolation precautions.
• Parents or legal guardians may be asked to wear a hospital provided mask and must wash their hands upon entering and exiting the patient’s room.  

For the Mental Health Unit:

• Four (4) visitors, including parents or legal guardians, are approved for visitation per patient in the consult rooms.

For ALL visitors:

• A formal request to the Director on call is required for exceptions to visitation.
  • Exceptions are granted for a specified period of time.
  • Patients who are at the end of life or enrolled in hospice services receive an automatic exception.
  • Breastfeeding mothers receive an automatic exception in 3 South, 3 Central, 3 North, 4 South, 4 North, 3 East, 4 East, the Specialized Delivery Unit, and North Campus Acute Care.
  • In Pediatric Intensive Care Units (2 East and North campus), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and Cardiac Care Unit (2 North/2 Central) breastfeeding mothers may receive an exception from the manager or director of the unit if the patient’s condition allows.
• Units with immunocompromised patients may choose to alter these guidelines at the recommendation of their medical directors.
• Trauma and emergency admissions with parents and siblings have 24 hours to find appropriate placement of the siblings or require an exception to visitation and placement on the exception log. 

Guidance for patients in our emergency departments and SDU triage

• Two (2) visitors, including parents or legal guardians, will be allowed with the patient. Two (2) additional visitors may be in the waiting room.
• There are no age restrictions for visitation while in the Emergency Department.
• If a patient in the Emergency Department requires admission and has siblings less than the age listed for the admission unit, they will be provided a maximum of 24 hours to find care for the other children.

Guidance for surgery patients

• Four (4) visitors, including parents or legal guardians, will be allowed with the patient while receiving care in the facility.
• Siblings who are 6 years of age and over will be allowed with the patient while receiving care in the facility.

Guidance for patients in our outpatient settings

• Two (2) primary support people will be allowed with the patient in infusion service areas.
• A maximum of four (4) people, including parents, legal guardians, siblings, and visitors, are allowed in other care delivery areas.
• Visitation exceptions and limitations can be made at the discretion of the manager.
• Outpatient Services with immunocompromised patients may choose to alter these guidelines at the recommendation of their medical directors.