COVID-19 Visitor Restrictions Implemented
Facial Covering Requirement
Everyone entering the hospital and any Medical Office Buildings both on and off campus must wear a cloth facial covering or mask.
Face coverings can include scarves, bandannas and homemade cloth face masks, as long as they cover both your nose and mouth. Visit the link below for the latest CDC face covering guidance. We appreciate everyone doing their part to keep our community safe. View the Latest CDC Guidance on Face CoveringHospital Visitor Restrictions
In the interest of patient, team member and community safety, UT Medical Center has implemented the following visitor restrictions effective Wednesday, 4/1/2021. Each patient receiving inpatient care may have two visitors at a time for their hospital stay. Patients receiving care for outpatient procedures, day surgery, ambulatory care and physician office visits may have one visitor at a time.
- All visitors must be age 16 years of age or older.
- Each visitor must be able to navigate the medical center independently.
- Visitors will not be permitted to wait in the lobby or vestibule areas for any reason.
- Visitors will need to communicate directly with the patient and other visitors to coordinate visits.
- Visitors will be required to check-in and check-out at screening stations upon arrival/departure.
- Additional visitors must wait outside for their turn.
- If you are coming for a surgical procedure or triage, there is one visitor allowed at that time.
- Women giving birth may have two support people and a doula during her labor and delivery.
- Both parents of babies in the NICU may visit at the same time for the duration of baby's stay.
- Mother/Baby Unit and GYN/Antepartum (4 East) may have two visitors at a time, 16 years of age and older.
Visitor Check-Ins
Visitor access into the main hospital is now limited to three entrances. These entrances are located at:- Boling Pavilion (located off of Flag Circle) – Open 24/7
- Main Heart Hospital (located off of Fountain Circle) – Open 24/7
- Hallway from Medical Office Building C crossover and Medical Office Buildings A and F – Open Monday – Friday, 7 am-5 pm
Visitor Screenings
Visitors will be asked about:
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Their relationship to the patient
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Medical center personnel will be checking every visitor’s temperature. Anyone with a temperature of 100.0F and up will not be allowed to enter the hospital.
In addition, visitors may be asked some or all of the following questions:
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Have you been in contact with someone known to have coronavirus (COVID-19)?
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Do you have a fever (or have you felt feverish)?
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Do you have a new or worsening cough?
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Do you have a runny nose or congestion?
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Do you have new or worse-than-normal shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
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Do you have fatigue, chills, muscle aches, a headache or a sore throat?
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Have you lost your sense of smell or taste?
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Have you experienced nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea over that last 48 hours?
Approved visitors will receive a visitor badge. Visitors with symptoms of illness will not be allowed to enter the hospital.
Medical Office Building Visitor Restrictions
Medical Office Buildings both on and off campus have these visitor restrictions. Patients may have one person age 16 and older accompany them their appointments.
Patients or caregiver with the patient must be screened using the below steps upon entry into the off campus locations (If the patient or caregiver has any of these symptoms, please ask the patient/caregiver to call provider’s office before entering):
If you or the person with you has:
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Fever of 100.0 or greater
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Cough, shortness of breath or other respiratory symptoms
If you or your caregiver has any of these symptoms, please call your provider’s office before entering the building.
Chemotherapy Infusion Services
For the safety and protection of our immunocompromised patients, we ask that you observe the following guidelines:- ONE visitor age 16 or older will be permitted to enter the Chemotherapy Infusion Center.
- Visitor should be able to navigate the Cancer Institute independently.
- All visitors must wear a cloth facial covering or mask that covers both the nose and mouth. Facial coverings must remain in place the entire time you are in the Chemotherapy Infusion Center.
- Visitors may not come and go or roam the infusion center area. You may stay in the designated patient treatment area only.
- Visitors may be asked to wait separate from patients due to the size of the Chemotherapy Infusion Center waiting room. You can re-join the patient once the patient is taken into the Chemotherapy Infusion Center treatment area.
- Visitors may not self-serve beverages (water, coffee) from the nutrition area in the Chemotherapy Infusion Center. Volunteers and nursing staff will be happy to assist you if needed.
- If you are going to be with a patient for a long period of time, please consider bringing a snack and/or lunch. Snacks and sandwiches provided by the Cancer Institute are reserved for patients.
Your Safety is Our Highest Priority
Health teams at UT Medical Center are working around the clock to stay on top of the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Our goal is to ensure excellent patient care and the safety of you and your family.
Learn MoreFor Additional Questions
For additional information or questions call the following COVID-19 information lines:
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Knox County Department of Health COVID-19 Line: 865-215-5555 available 8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday.
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Tennessee Department of Health’s COVID-19 Line: 877-857-2945 available 11 am – 11 pm daily. Call volumes are expected to be high. If you call and receive a busy signal, please be patient and try your call again at a later time.