Visitor Guidelines

Duke Health Hospital Locations (Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Raleigh Hospital)

Visiting Hours are from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm daily

All Visitors:

• May be required to complete health screening at designated entry points.
• Must adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.
• Must not have a fever or other symptoms of illness.
• Will be asked to present photo identification when entering the building.
• Must check in at a hospital information desk to receive a visitor badge – a requirement to enter inpatient spaces.
• Must check out on departure using a kiosk or with the information desk staff.
• Minors must be attended by an adult age 18+ at all times (where minor visitors are permitted).

As part of our commitment to ensuring Duke Health continues to be a safe place to work and receive care, weapons detection systems are currently utilized at Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Raleigh Hospital focusing on our inpatient room towers. All patients, visitors, and non-credentialed vendors will be screened upon entry into our campus buildings.

Inpatient - Adult

COVID-19 Patients:

• One (1) visitor age 18+ is allowed to visit in room; switching is allowed. (An exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)
• No eating or drinking in patient rooms as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.
• Must remain in patient room and may not visit any other locations in the facility.
• One (1) overnight visitor age 18+ is permitted; switching is allowed in 24-hour intervals.
  • If the visitor leaves the hospital after 9:00 pm, the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 8:00 am.
  • If the visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.
• All visitors may be required to complete health screenings.
• All visitors must wear personal protective equipment including an N95 mask, eye protection, gown, and gloves.

Non-COVID-19 Patients:

• Up to four (4) visitors of all ages are allowed to visit in a patient's room where space permits; switching is allowed. Minors must be attended by an adult 18+. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)
• One (1) overnight visitor age 18+ is permitted; no switching is allowed. Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.
  • If the visitor leaves the hospital after 9:00 pm, the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 8:00 am.
• If a visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.

Inpatient – Pediatric

COVID-19 Patients:

• Two (2) visitors age 18+ (unless parent or caregiver of the pediatric patient) are allowed in the patient room; switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)
• Must remain in patient room and may not visit any other locations in the facility.
• No eating or drinking in patient rooms as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.
• One (1) overnight visitor age 18+, unless parent or caregiver of the patient.
  • Must remain in the patient’s room and may not visit any other locations in the facility.
  • If the visitor leaves the hospital after 9:00 pm, the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 8:00 am.
  • If a visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.
• All visitors may be required to complete health screenings.
• All visitors must wear personal protective equipment including an N95 mask, eye protection, gown, and gloves.

Non-COVID-19 Patients:

• Up to four (4) visitors of all ages are allowed to visit in room, where space permits; switching is allowed. Minors must be attended by an adult 18+. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)
• Two (2) overnight visitors age 18+, unless a parent or caregiver of patient, are permitted. 
  • If the visitor leaves the hospital after 9:00 pm, the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 8:00 am.
  • If a visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.

Maternity Inpatient/Nursing Mothers (24/7 Access)

COVID-19 Patients:

• One (1) visitor age 18+ (unless parent or caregiver of pediatric patient) is allowed to visit in room; switching is allowed in 24-hour intervals. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

• Visitors must remain in patient room and may not visit any other locations in the facility.

• One (1) overnight visitor age 18+ (unless parent or caregiver of pediatric patient); switching is allowed in 24-hour intervals. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

• For new patients, visitors may arrive at any time. For subsequent nights: 

  • If the visitor leaves the hospital after 9:00 p.m., the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 8:00 a.m.

  • If a visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.

• All visitors may be required to complete health screenings.
• All visitors must wear personal protective equipment including an N95 mask, eye protection, gown, and gloves.

Non-COVID-19 Patients:

• Up to four (4) visitors of all ages are allowed to visit in room where space permits; switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.) Minors must be attended by an adult age 18+.

• Up to four (4) visitors age 18+ (unless parent or caregiver of pediatric patient) overnight in Labor & Delivery room; two (2) visitors allowed in post-partum; no switching allowed.

• For new patients, visitors may arrive at any time. For subsequent nights:

  • If a visitor leaves the hospital after 9:00 pm, the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 8:00 am.

  • If a visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.

COVID-19 Patients:

• Two (2) visitors; switching is allowed in the main lobby or outside the facility. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)
• Must remain in patient room and may not visit any other locations in the facility.
• No eating or drinking in patient rooms as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.
• All visitors may be required to complete health screenings.
• All visitors must wear personal protective equipment including an N95 mask, eye protection, gown, and gloves.

We kindly request one family member coordinate the rotation and capacity of visitors.

Non-COVID-19 Patients:

• Up to four (4) visitors at a time, where space permits; switching is allowed in the main lobby or outside the facility. (Exception may be granted also to permit a compassionate care visitor.)

We kindly request one family member coordinate the rotation and capacity of visitors.

• All ages are allowed to visit (minors must be attended by an adult 18+).
  One (1) visitor is allowed to visit in the room; switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

• One (1) visitor is allowed to wait in the lobby (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+); switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

Adult Patients

Up to four (4) visitors age 18+, where space permits, with one (1) in a clinical area; switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

Pediatric Patients

Up to four (4) visitors age 18+ (unless a parent or caregiver of pediatric patient), where space permits, with two (2) adults in clinical areas; switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

Adult Patients

Up to four (4) visitors age 18+, where space permits, with one (1) in the clinical area; switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

Pediatric Patients

Up to four (4) visitors age 18+ (unless a parent or caregiver of the pediatric patient), where space permits, with two (2) in the clinical area; switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

Adult Patients

• Up to four (4) visitors of all ages (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+) are allowed, where space permits, with one (1) in the clinical area; switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

Pediatric Patients

• Up to four (4) visitors of all ages (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+) are allowed, where space permits, with two (2) in the clinical area; switching is allowed. (Exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.)

Compassionate Care Visitors are individuals who request to visit a patient who is experiencing any of the following circumstances: (a) end-of-life situations; (b) the patient was living with his or her family before recently being admitted to the facility and is struggling with the change in environment and lack of physical family support; (c) the patient is grieving after a friend of family member recently passed away; (d) a patient who needs cueing and encouragement with eating or drinking, previously provided by family or caregivers, is experiencing weight loss or dehydration; or (e) the patient used to talk and interact with others, but is experiencing emotional distress, seldom speaking, or crying more frequently when the patient rarely cried in the past. A patient’s care team shall determine whether a patient is entitled to Compassionate Care Visitors. Patients have the right to withdraw or deny their consent to one or more Compassionate Care Visitor at any time.

The persons and agencies tasked with investigating violations of hospital patient visitation are:

Duke University Hospital (Patient & Visitor Relations): 919-681-2020, option 3

Duke Regional Hospital (Patient & Visitor Relations): 919-470-4747

Duke Raleigh Hospital (Patient & Visitor Relations): 919-862-5848

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: 919-855-4800