Overview
General policies
If you are positive for COVID-19 within 10 days (or 20 days for immunocompromised patients) of an in-person appointment, contact your clinic to discuss your upcoming visit.
All patients and visitors to UW Health clinic and hospital locations are required to answer screening questions regarding COVID-19.
Mask guidelines
Face coverings
Masks are recommended at many UW Health clinics and hospitals. Barrier masks are required in UW Health locations considered to be high risk based on the patient population served and where patients have compromised immune systems. Patients or visitors with cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms should always wear a mask. Cloth masks or masks with valves are not allowed.
Barrier masks
Provide a higher level of protection than face coverings
They prevent respiratory droplets that are in the air from entering your mouth and nose
They stop your respiratory droplets from reaching other people
Patients who arrive where masks are required will be provided a barrier mask to wear. In addition, the mask must cover both the nose and mouth and be worn the entire time. Patients who are not able to tolerate wearing a mask over the mouth and nose should contact their health care provider by phone or through MyChart. Immunocompromised patients should consider wearing a tight-fitting mask like a KN95 or N95.
Illinois
Ambulatory clinics/settings
Masks are required at the Regional Cancer Center, for all direct patient interaction.
Masks are recommended but not required at all primary care clinics and other non-hospital clinic spaces, including patient rooms, except for the Regional Cancer Center.
Inpatient and surgical services areas
Masks are required in high-risk areas where patients have compromised immune systems, including:
Critical Care Unit
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Masks are recommended but not required in most inpatient settings.
Wisconsin
Ambulatory clinics/settings
Masks are required for high-risk ambulatory locations including the waiting rooms, registration/scheduling areas and exam/procedural rooms within them:
Breast Center
Cancer Clinics
Chemotherapy Room
Dialysis
Emergency Departments
Infectious Disease Clinic
Infusion Center
Johnson Creek Regional Cancer Center
Multi-Disciplinary GI Cancer Clinic
Pulmonary Clinic
Radiation Oncology
Transplant Clinic
Urgent Care (waiting rooms only)
Masks are recommended but not required at low-risk ambulatory locations including:
All clinics not listed as high-risk
Madison Surgery Center
Hospital locations
In Wisconsin, within University Hospital, American Family Children’s Hospital and East Madison Hospital masks are required with every patient interaction within a hospital setting including entry to every patient room. Patient interaction is defined as an intentional interaction. For example, caring for a patient or a conversation that takes place between a patient and clinician or patient/visitor and other staff member.
Masks are also required in high-risk hospital areas including:
Waiting rooms
Exam/procedural rooms
Registration/scheduling
Patient rooms
Patients may request that care team members wear masks in an area designated as ‘masking recommended,’ and staff and providers will honor the request.
Visitor info
Primary support persons and visitors
Our goal is to provide a safe, healing environment. For everyone’s safety, please respect these guidelines.
Visitors to Madison, Wis. locations
Our visitor policy allows for the following:
Emergency Department
2 visitors
University Hospital and East Madison Hospital
2 visitors
No limit on total number of visitors per stay
Visiting hours: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
American Family Children's Hospital
2 designated primary support/caregivers allowed with the patient 24/7 within the following guidelines:
Primary support/caregiver must be older than 16 years of age
Primary support/caregiver will be the only people allowed to sleep overnight at the patient's bedside
Additional visitors are allowed during hospital visiting hours
Total number of primary support and visitors in the patient room cannot be more than 2 people at a time
Visiting hours: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Clinics
Primary support/visitor number not restricted
Urgent Care Locations
Primary support/visitor number not restricted
Guidelines for visiting a patient in isolation
Limit of 2 visitors at the same time. Follow other designated visitor guidelines above.
Visitors should go directly to the patient's room and remain in the room during the visit, except to use the public restroom
For everyone's safety, visitors should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow all instructions provided
COVID-19 confirmed patient may only have visitors for end-of-life care, when required legally and/or 1 visitor for 1 hour each day
General guidelines
Primary support persons, visitors and health care decision-makers who are currently experiencing or recently experienced any acute respiratory symptoms, such as a cough or shortness of breath, or diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 10 days are not permitted.
Do not visit if you are experiencing a fever, cough, sore throat or body aches
Visitors under 18 years of age must be supervised at all times by an adult. For adults in the emergency department or hospital, the adult cannot be the patient.
We understand the importance of keeping patients connected with their loved ones while receiving care. To stay connected we encourage patients and families to use phone or video chat with anyone who is unable to visit.