Frequently Asked Questions About the Visitor Policy
As COVID-19 cases continue to decline in our region and the number of individuals who are vaccinated increases, we are now able to allow inpatient visitors in a safe and carefully controlled manner.
City of Hope's inpatient visitor policy aims to protect all patients and staff from COVID-19 while allowing our inpatients and their loved ones to be together.
- All inpatients are allowed two simultaneous visitors. Visitors are no longer required to be on an approved visitor list.
- Minors aged 5 and over are allowed to visit if they can wear a mask and are accompanied by an adult (who is not the patient) at all times.
- Inpatients who have surgery, chemotherapy or unscheduled admission from the clinic will be allowed visitors only once admitted to a room.
Your visitor may leave and reenter the facility only once during a given day’s visiting hours. Exceptions may be granted due to extenuating circumstances, but you would need to reach out to your care team ahead of time.
Visitors may bring in food or have food delivered. They may also purchase food from one of the food service locations within the hospital without passing outside of security. They can also order room service at a cost by calling extension 63257 from a house phone.
- Visitation is allowed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Visitors must check in with security at the front desk of City of Hope Helford Clinical Research Hospital.
- Visitors will not be permitted for inpatients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
- Visitors should not visit their loved ones if they or anyone in their household feels sick or has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days or exposed to someone who is waiting for COVID-19 test results.
- Please help us protect your loved ones by taking steps to avoid infection while outside of the hospital. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an antiseptic hand gel. Avoid crowded areas and sick people.
Yes. Special considerations will be made under the following circumstances:
- Patients under the age of 18 will be allowed two designated visitors at the same time.
- Actively dying patients with prior approval will be allowed up to three simultaneous visitors per day for a one-time visit.
- Due to their weakened immune systems, patients undergoing transplant cannot receive visitors unless approved by their hematology team.
The visitor policy is arranged specifically for each patient’s situation and may be revoked or revised at any time.
- At the main campus in Duarte, California, one visitor (caregiver) per day may accompany each patient for an outpatient visit (as space allows — space is limited in some departments).
- Please note: Caregivers are considered visitors. If you would like a caregiver or loved one to join your appointment virtually, please call them before the visit begins and put them on speakerphone or use a video app, such as FaceTime or Zoom.
We allow outpatient visitors in specific situations:
- At the community network sites, one visitor may accompany the patient to their appointments (this excludes infusion and radiation visits). The patient and their visitor will check in for the appointment. However, the visitor cannot wait in the waiting area and must instead wait outside City of Hope's facility. When the patient is taken to a private/exam room, City of Hope will call/text the visitor to join them at that point.
- Please note: Caregivers are considered visitors. If you would like a caregiver or loved one to join your appointment virtually, please call them before the visit begins and put them on speakerphone or use a video app, such as FaceTime or Zoom.
- There will be limited exceptions for those requiring special assistance and those under the age of 18.
Yes, one visitor may accompany you until you go into surgery. During your surgery, your visitor may wait outside or at Graff Medical and Scientific Library. Once you are awake, your care team will notify your visitor to return. This policy applies to patients having surgery at City of Hope Helford Clinical Research Hospital and our Day Hospital.
Yes, you may have one visitor during 24-hour observations for clinical trials held in the Judy & Bernard Briskin Center for Clinical Research or urgent care (ETC) visits in the Geri & Richard Brawerman Ambulatory Care Center.
- Visitors will not be permitted for outpatients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
- Visitors should not visit their loved ones if they or anyone in their household feels sick or has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days or exposed to someone who is waiting for COVID-19 test results.
- Please help us protect your loved ones by taking steps to avoid infection while outside of the hospital. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an antiseptic hand gel. Avoid crowded areas and sick people.