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At UAMS, we understand that each of our patients has special needs. Because we know that patients need the comfort of family and friends during a hospital stay, we have adopted a flexible visiting policy. Our nursing staff will work with patients and visitors to determine guidelines for visiting that are the very best for each individual patient. We encourage friends and family to visit patients if this helps in the healing process.
When you arrive at the hospital for the first time, please check in with the Information Desk on the first floor to find the patient's wing and room number. If you are visiting patients on the 4th or 5th floors, you will also need to check in with the floor receptionist each time you come for a visit.
For the safety of our patients and staff, the hospital is locked at 8:30 p.m. After hours entrance and exit is through the emergency room on Shuffield Drive.
Hand washing
Germ prevention is one of our top priorities for your safety and that of our patients and other family members and visitors. Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs and disease. Soap and water are available in every patient room, along with alcoholbased hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer is also available outside patient rooms and at major building entrances.
Guidelines
- We provide a smoke-free environment for the health and safety of our patients.
- Please limit the length of your visit so that your friend or family member can get enough rest and our staff can provide the best possible care.
- Limit the number of visitors to two in the room at one time. Other visitors may wait in the designated waiting area.
- Disruptive and uncooperative visitors are not tolerated. If necessary, the UAMS Police Department will be notified for assistance.
- It may be necessary for us to limit visits due to safety, security or patient care.
Maternal/Infant Visiting Policy
UAMS is taking precautions by limiting visitation to mothers and infants as follows:
- Visitors 18 years and older who are free of fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat and other cold and flu symptoms are allowed. Please do not visit if you are sick.
- Visitors under the age of 18 are allowed to visit their mothers, brothers and sisters after passing a daily health screening. Children under 18 who are not immediate family members (daughter, son, brother or sister only) are not allowed in the maternal and infant areas, including waiting areas on the 5th and 6th floors. A children's area is available on the first floor of the hospital. Children under 18 are not allowed to stay overnight in the maternal and infant areas; they must leave the building at 8:30 p.m. and may return after 8:00 a.m.
- An ID badge must be worn in the NICU at all times, and visitor badges are required in all other maternal and infant areas.
Intensive Care
Generally, the best times to visit a patient in our intensive care units (ICU) are:
- 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
- 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
- 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Our medical team makes daily rounds to check on patients between 6:00 - 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. If you are visiting during these times, please stay at the bedside of your family member/friend to ensure that the privacy of other patients is respected.
If you are asked to leave a patient's room at any time, understand that our staff members are acting in the best interest of our patients, so please honor these requests as quickly as possible.
Children
We want all patients and their families to have a pleasant, healthy experience here at UAMS. Unfortunately, both children and our patients have lots of germs, and we need to protect them from each other. Please follow these guidelines.
- If at all possible, do not bring children to the hospital.
- Children under 12 must be supervised at all times.
- Children under 12 may visit in the patient's room when the patient care team determines it is appropriate and beneficial to the patient. Children are not allowed in waiting areas or hallways above the first floor.
- The Children's Area on the first floor of the hospital is suitable for children of all ages.
- All children under 12 must leave the hospital by 8:30 p.m. every night. They may return after 8:00 a.m.
- Children under 12 are not allowed in the hospital's overnight sleep areas.
- If you have children with you at the hospital, don't feel you have to stay in one place. Although children are not allowed in the hallways or waiting rooms above the first floor, there are lots of places to go. Pagers are available so we can reach you anywhere within several miles of the hospital. You can request a pager at the 2nd floor waiting room desk. Be sure the hostess notifies your patient's caregiver of your pager number.
- The cafeteria on the ground floor of the Central Building is a good place for children to eat.
- A good place for fresh air is the area south of the hospital lobby on the first floor.
- Please keep children closely supervised in parking areas.
- In times of need for other families, we may ask that you take children to another area of the hospital.
Please do not bring a child for a visit if the child has a cold or any other infectious disease. If you have any doubt, it is in your loved one's best interest to wait until the child is well to bring him/her for a visit.
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