Visiting a Patient
We realize that spending time with your loved one is important to the healing process. As a member of the family — in our eyes, that's any person who plays a significant role in our patient's life — your emotional support is not only welcomed, it's deeply encouraged.
However please do not visit, for the safety of your loved one and the rest of our patients, if you have:
- A cold or respiratory infection
- Fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, runny nose or sneezing, chills, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, body aches, sore throat, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell
- Been exposed to COVID-19
If you're unable to be there in person for your loved one, you may also call, write or send packages to them. We encourage you to use electronic communications, such as FaceTime and Skype, as often as possible. Our staff members are always available to help coordinate these virtual visits.
Visitor Policies
The health and safety of our patients, families and staff are our top priority. We continue to evaluate our visitor policy to allow more people to safely visit their loved one while receiving care.
- All visitors must attest to a health screening upon arrival. Those with symptoms will not be allowed to enter.
- Per guidance from the California Department of Public Health, visitors to healthcare facilities, including all Cedars-Sinai facilities, are still required to wear masks at all times, even when in a patient’s room. Visitors must properly wear a hospital-issued surgical mask, or their own provided it is well-fitted, not cloth, does not have external vents, and is not damaged or visibly soiled.
- Visitors are not allowed to eat or drink indoors at any time, including in lobbies, public areas or inpatient rooms, except at our on-site eateries, such as the Ray Charles Cafeteria. Exceptions to our food and drink policy also will be made in: Labor & Delivery, Post-Partum, NICU and Pediatrics. Outside food delivery to our patients is restricted.
- Visitors must also avoid crowding, practice hand hygiene and stay in the patient’s room while visiting.
- Any visitors, including medically trained visitors, should not contradict the caregiver’s orders or interfere with the plan of care but may help facilitate communication.
Inpatient Areas
Non-COVID-19 inpatient visitation is as follows:
Intensive Care Units
- Two visitors at a time, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- One overnight visitor allowed at the discretion of nursing leadership.
- All visitors must be age 18 or older.
- To enter the unit, please call from the intercom outside ICU or the appropriate telephone in the lobby.
- For the patient’s privacy, a caregiver may ask you to leave the patient’s room during some treatments.
Medical and Surgical Units
- Two visitors at a time, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- One overnight visitor allowed at the discretion of nursing leadership.
Labor and Delivery
- Up to two unique adult visitors per day, inclusive of a doula, 24 hours/day.
- All visitors must be age 18 or older.
- If you’re ill, please postpone your visit. All visitors must be free from infections, rashes, earaches, runny noses, diarrhea or recent exposure to infectious diseases.
- All visitors must wash their hands before contact with the baby.
Postpartum & Maternal-Fetal Care Unit
- Up to two unique visitors per day, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- One overnight visitor allowed at the discretion of nursing leadership.
- All visitors must be age 18 or older.
Pediatrics/PICU
- One pair of parents/guardians, 24 hours/day in addition to two visitors at a time per day, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., but only two people in the room at any given time.
- All visitors must be age 18 or older.
- If you are ill, please postpone your visit. Visitors must be free of contagious illnesses to visit and will be screened by the pediatric staff.
- Children love presents, but please don’t bring latex balloons, live plants, or flowers. Mylar balloons are permitted. The parents or nursing supervisor must approve gifts of food.
NICU
- Up to two parents/guardians and two unique visitors during hospital stay, 24 hours/day, but only two parents/guardians or one parent/guardian + one unique visitor in the room at any given time.
- All visitors must be age 18 or older.
- If you are ill, please postpone your visit.
- All visitors must scrub their hands upon entry to the unit.
End-of-life Patients Who Are Not COVID-19 Positive or Suspected
- Up to two unique visitors per day, 24 hours/day.
Additional Considerations:
- Pediatric Surgery: Two visitors allowed for all inpatient and outpatient pediatric surgery patients under 18, before, during and after surgery. Please note: if a pediatric patient is admitted to the hospital following surgery, visitor guidelines will then default to the above inpatient visitor policy.
- Exceptions to the visitor policy and visitor time limits may be made for patients with compassionate care needs or developmental or cognitive impairments. For questions about exceptions, ask for the charge nurse.
- Requests to visit patients in compassionate-care situations must be approved by the nursing director or administrator on duty.
Visiting Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Infection
Inpatients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection, including end-of-life patients, are allowed one healthy visitor per day for a maximum of two hours at a time. Overnight stays are not allowed except in Labor & Delivery where one healthy visitor per day is allowed 24 hours/day.
Because visiting a patient with COVID-19 puts you at risk of catching the illness, Cedars-Sinai strongly recommends virtual visits for all patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection—especially if you are not up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations.
If you do visit a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection, you must:
- Be free of COVID-19 symptoms and always wear a well-fitted mask at any Cedars-Sinai site.
- Check-in at the nurses station upon arrival and before entering a patient room.
- Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while in the room with the patient. This includes gowns, gloves, eye protection, and a mask (respirator). The patient’s nurse can demonstrate the appropriate way to wear and remove this protective equipment. Wearing PPE incorrectly increases your risk of contracting COVID-19 infection.
- Always wash your hands immediately after removing PPE.
- Remain physically distant from healthcare workers and other visitors and patients.
- Go directly to the patient’s room and not congregate in hallways, waiting rooms, or other areas.
- Not enter and exit the room multiple times during your visit, except for Labor & Delivery visitors.
- Not eat or drink indoors at any time.
Outpatient Areas
Non-COVID-19 outpatient visitation is as follows:
Emergency Room
- One visitor 24 hours/day.
Infusion Areas
- Visitor accommodations are based on ability to maintain appropriate physical distancing.
- Please check with the clinic prior to your appointment.
Same-day Surgery
- One unique, healthy companion before, during, and after surgery.
Imaging
- One visitor is allowed for patients under the age of 18 or for patients who need physical assistance.
Doctor Appointments and Urgent Care Centers
One visitor is allowed for the following:
- Patients under the age of 18.
- Patients with physical, developmental, or cognitive impairments, memory loss or confusion.
- Only at the discretion of the provider, patients with a visit involving any new diagnosis or complex medical condition requiring discussion, or a visit involving a procedure when able to be accommodated.
Visitors are not allowed for patients with or suspected of having COVID-19 at any of our outpatient locations.
Contacting a Patient
Main Campus WiFi Access
- Choose the "csguest" network in your device’s wireless settings.
- A "guest" login window will appear.
- Select "log on as guest" — no password required.
Smoke-Free Campus
Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the medical center campus, including sidewalks, parking structures and inside vehicles, whether parked or driving through campus.
Cedars-Sinai Campus Amenities
Spiritual Care
Serving patients and visitors from many different faiths.
Healing Gardens
Green space for a beneficial, therapeutic landscape.
Art Collection
Cedars-Sinai is home to more than 4,000 notable works of art and healing.