Visitor Restrictions in Place

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.
• Are required to wear a mask over their nose and mouth at all times while on campus and in patient rooms (Duke Health issued ear loop masks will be provided and are strongly encouraged. Bandanas and gaiters are not permitted.).
• Maintain 3 feet of distance from individuals outside visitor’s household while eating or drinking (where eating and drinking is permitted).
• Will be asked to present photo identification when entering the building.
• Must check-in at hospital information desk to receive a visitor badge – a requirement to enter inpatient spaces.
• Must check out on departure using a kiosk or with information desk staff.
• Must not leave minor visitors who accompany them unattended (where minor visitors are permitted).

We also encourage you to use virtual means to connect with your loved ones using FaceTime and Skype, in place of in-person communication when possible.

Inpatient - Adult

COVID-19 Patients:

• One (1) asymptomatic visitor age 18+ is allowed to visit in room; switching is allowed.
  • 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.
• All visitors may be required to complete health screenings and adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.

Non-COVID-19 Patients:

• Two (2) visitors age 12+ are allowed to visit in room (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+); switching is allowed.
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.
• One (1) overnight visitor age 18+ is permitted; no switching 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, 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 and adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.

Inpatient – Pediatric

COVID-19 Patients:

• Two (2) designated asymptomatic visitor age 18+ allowed in patient room (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+) and two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors total allowed in hospital; no 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) designated asymptomatic overnight visitor age 18+, unless parent or caregiver of patient, is permitted.
  • Must remain in the patient’s room during overnight visit.
  • If the visitor leaves the hospital, 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 and adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.

Non-COVID-19 Patients:

• Two (2) visitors age 12+ are allowed to visit; switching is allowed (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+). 
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.
• Two (2) overnight visitors age 18 or older, unless a parent or caregiver of patient, are permitted. Visitors must:
  • Remain in the patient’s room during overnight visit.
  • If the visitor leaves the hospital, 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 and adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.

Maternity Inpatient/Nursing Mothers

COVID-19 Patients:

• One (1) designated asymptomatic visitor age 18+ is allowed to visit in room; no switching 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.
• All visitors may be required to complete health screenings and adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.
• One (1) designated asymptomatic overnight visitor age 18+, unless parent or caregiver of patient; no switching.
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.
  • If visitor leaves the hospital, visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 8:00 am.

Non-COVID-19 Patients:

• Two (2) visitors age 12+ are allowed to visit in room, unless exception granted (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+); switching is allowed.
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.
• Limit of one (1) visitor in Labor & Delivery Operation Room.
• Two (2) overnight visitors age 18+, unless parent or caregiver of pediatric patient; no switching allowed.
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.
  • If visitor leaves the hospital, 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 and adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.

For Non- COVID-19 Patients:

• Four designated visitors are allowed at a time, where space permits.
• Switching is allowed and should take place in the main lobby or outside the facility, per hospital protocol.
• An exception may be granted to also permit a compassionate care visitor.
• Visitors may be required to complete health screenings and comply with infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.

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

For COVID-19 Patients:

• One asymptomatic visitor is permitted; Switching is allowed and should take place in the main lobby or outside the facility, per hospital protocol.
• An 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 and adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.

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

• One (1) asymptomatic visitor age 12+ is allowed to visit in room (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+); switching is allowed
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.
• One (1) asymptomatic visitor age 12+ 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

• Two (2) visitors age 18+ with 1 in clinical area; switching is allowed.
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.

Pediatric Patients

• Two (2) visitors age 18+ (unless parent or caregiver of pediatric patient) with two (2) adults in clinical areas; switching is allowed.
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.

Adult Patients

• Two (2) visitors age 18+ with 1 in the clinical area; switching is allowed.
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.

Pediatric Patients

• Two (2) visitors age 18+ (unless parent or caregiver of pediatric patient) in either the designated waiting area OR in clinical area; switching is allowed.
  • Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor.

Adult Patients

• One (1) visitor age 12+ in either the designated waiting area OR in the clinical area; switching is allowed (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+).
• Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor. Exceptions to this policy include:
  • An additional aide, assistant or caregiver may accompany a patient when their presence is required.
  • A child/sibling under the age of 12 may accompany a patient when a caregiver has no other reasonable option for childcare (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+).
  • An additional child/sibling may accompany the patient when a caregiver has no other reasonable option for childcare.
  • Any prior location/clinic-specific restriction may continue to apply.

Pediatric Patients

• Two (2) visitors age 12+ either in designated waiting area OR in clinical area; switching is allowed (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+).
• Exception may be granted to also permit a Compassionate Care Visitor. Exceptions to this policy include:
  • An additional aide, assistant or caregiver may accompany a patient when their presence is required.
  • A child/sibling under the age of 12 may accompany a visitor when visitor is patient’s caregiver and has no other reasonable option for childcare (minors must be accompanied by an adult 18+).
  • An additional child/sibling may accompany the visitor when visitor is patient’s caregiver and has no other reasonable option for childcare.
  • Any prior location/clinic-specific restriction may continue to apply.

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
• 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