Visitor Policy

Updated May 11, 2023

Current Level: Green (Visitation Permitted)

At University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), we know that patients need the important people in their lives to help them in their healing journey. This is why we recognize visitors to patients staying in the hospital as care partners, and we welcome them to our facilities.

In order to maintain a safe and healing environment, we have developed a visitor policy that outlines what’s expected of patients, visitors and team members when care partners are present.

Because conditions within the larger community can change, we created a color-coded system with four different levels of restrictions on visitation to allow for more flexibility as conditions change.

Current Visitation Level: Green (Visitation Permitted) Learn more about the current visitation level.

Visiting Hours - Daily 8 am to 8 pm

Visitation Rules

All care partners (visitors) must follow these rules:

• See masking guidelines for patients, care partners (visitors) and team members, including when masks are required in UMMS facilities. 
• No one may smoke in any area within or outside of the facility.
• Visitors may not give patients cigarettes, or any nicotine-related items, medications or drugs not prescribed by the patient's physician, or weapons of any type.
• In order to create a healing environment, care partners must show respectful and quiet conduct towards all patients, other visitors and staff at all times.
• Breaking the rules of any UMMS facility policy will result in the visitor (care partner) being removed from the premises, and that person may be barred from any future visits. This person may be a friend, family member, personal care assistant or disability service provider and may or may not be legally authorized to make decisions for the patient. The patient may change the designated support person throughout their stay.

Who May Visit or Accompany Patients

• Care Partners (Visitors) are the friends and family who the patient has a significant relationship with and who provide support during the patients’ stay. Care partners are chosen by the patient or, in the case of children (or others for whom another person has been empowered to makes decisions), by their parents, guardians or appointed decisionmaker.
• Designated Support Persons: A designated support person is one type of care partner who the patient specifically chooses to be physically present at the hospital to support the patient. Designated support persons are not limited to patients with disabilities. This person may be a friend, family member, personal care assistant or disability service provider and may or may not be legally authorized to make decisions for the patient. The patient may change the designated support person throughout their stay. 
  • Communication with Designated Support Persons: If a patient with disabilities does not have a designated support person present at the hospital, staff will attempt to communicate relevant information with a patient's designated representative, in alignment with patient privacy requirements. Effort shall be made to communicate in advance of admission, if possible. The hospital shall inform the patient and any designated support persons, or care partners, of this policy.  

Visitation Levels:

Current Visitation Level: Green (Visitation Permitted)