Our Visitor Policies

July 18, 2024 
This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Tyler Seto, M.D., System Vice-President, Quality and Analytics, City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte.

Visiting your family member or loved one when they are receiving treatment at City of Hope® is an important way to support them during their cancer journey. These visitor policies for our Los Angeles-area locations are designed to give you the time you need with your loved one, while also ensuring that they receive the personalized cancer care they deserve.

Visitor Policies at Our Los-Angeles-Area Locations

For outpatient appointments:

  • Patients may be accompanied by one visitor per day, as space allows. 
  • Patients under 18 may be accompanied by two visitors per day.

For inpatients:

  • Patients may have up to two visitors at their bedside simultaneously. 
  • Visitors are permitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are not required to be on an approved visitor list.
  • Visitors must check in at the front desk of at City of Hope Helford Clinical Research Hospital.
  • Children aged 5 and over are allowed, if accompanied at all times by an adult.
  • Inpatients undergoing surgery or chemotherapy, or those with an unscheduled admission, are allowed visitors after being admitted to a room.

Special Circumstances for Inpatients

  • With prior approval, actively dying patients are allowed up to three visitors per day for a one-time visit.
  • Due to weakened immune systems, patients undergoing transplant cannot receive visitors without the approval of their hematology team.

Every patient’s situation is unique, so if you have questions about how these policies apply to you or your loved ones, please discuss them with your cancer care team. If you feel sick and have questions about attending an appointment, please refer to our Respiratory Virus Prevention Guidelines or contact your cancer care team directly.

What You Can Do While Waiting

If you are accompanying a patient at City of Hope Duarte, here are some things to do while you wait:

  • Take a walk in our gardens and public spaces.
  • Donate blood or platelets at the City of Hope Blood Donor Center.
  • Enjoy a meal at the City Café (behind the Geri & Richard Brawerman Ambulatory Care Center).

If your loved one has a longer visit and you wish to pick him or her up later, we will help coordinate a pick-up time.
 

Packages for Inpatients

If your loved one is an inpatient, you can deliver packages for them to the security desk at the front of City of Hope Helford Clinical Research Hospital. Please be sure that the patient's name and room number are on the package, as well as the name of the attending physician and medical record number, if you know it.