Changes to Outpatient Guidelines: Virginia Mason Medical Center is limiting our outpatient companion guidelines as part of our continued desire to protect the safety of our patients, their family members and our care teams. Outpatients are strongly encouraged to attend their appointments alone. If necessary, they may have one companion per patient. A second companion may be present for infants under the age of two. See more guideline details >>

Cell Phone Waiting Lot: The Terry and University parking lot will be available for companions of clinic or hospital patients who are waiting outside Virginia Mason Medical Center downtown facilities. The Lindeman Pavilion restrooms will also be available to companions while they are waiting.

Effective February 21, 2022
Virginia Mason Medical Center is restricting visitors to the hospital to protect the safety of our patients, their family members, and our care teams due to recent COVID-19 activity in the community. Our priority is the safety and care of our patients, team members, and visitors.

Before you visit: All visitors must comply with screening and mask requirements when entering the building. Visitors with symptoms will not be allowed to enter, and visitors must wear masks for the entirety of their stay.

We understand it is a difficult time for our patients and their loved ones. These restrictions are very important for the health and safety of our patients and staff, and those who do not comply may have visitation access revoked. Please contact the hospital or your medical provider if you have any questions about the visitor policy.

At this time, hospital visitors are allowed in the following circumstances:

• One designated visitor per patient stay with proof of vaccination.
• Visitation hours are between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily, with the last visit beginning at 7 p.m.
• Visitors must show proof of begin fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or proof of receiving a negative COVID-19 test (antigen or PCR) within 72 hours of their visit. Proof is demonstrated with a written report from a licensed lab or provider.
• Professionals providing essential support and/or care as part of a patient’s care team, including doulas.
• Emergency Services department: One visitor per Emergency Services department visit, at the discretion of the clinical care team.

For the safety of patients and staff, the following visitors are not allowed:

• Visitors with any symptoms: Fever (greater than 100.4 or, if 65 or older, greater than 99.6), cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, headache, congestion or runny nose, and nausea, vomiting or diarrhea)
• Visitors who are not willing or able to wear a mask the entire time they are in the hospital.
• Children ages 5 and over may be counted as a designated visitor.

Any approved visitors:

• Must use designated entrances.
• Will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
• Will be asked to complete hand hygiene upon entry.
• Must wear a mask the entire time while inside the building, including in a patient’s room. Masks must be tight-fitting and completely covers nose and mouth. Gauze, knitted, gaiter or crochet masks will not be allowed.
• Are encouraged to maintain physical distancing (at least six feet apart from others).

Virginia Mason is limiting our surgery and procedure companion guidelines to protect the safety of our patients, their family members, and our care teams.

Surgical and procedural patients may not have anyone accompany them beyond the entrance point unless one companion is needed to provide support per the Americans with Disabilities Act, or pediatric patients requiring a parent or guardian to accompany them.

• A companion contact cell phone number will be obtained prior to the procedure.
• Patients will have their companion ride take them to a designated drop off and pick up location where they will enter through an access screening station, before proceeding to their check-in location. Patient transportation assistance will be available if needed.
• A member of the care team will contact the companion via cell phone to communicate discharge instructions and confirm a pickup time.
• For patients who need to stay overnight, one companion will be provided a 30 minute visit in the patient room after the procedure.

Cell Phone Waiting Lot: The Terry and University parking lot will be available for companions of clinic or hospital patients who are waiting outside Virginia Mason facilities. The Lindeman Pavilion restrooms will also be available to companions while they are waiting.

Cell Phone Waiting Lot

Cell Phone Waiting Lot: The Terry and University parking lot will be available for companions of clinic or hospital patients who are waiting outside Virginia Mason facilities. The Lindeman Pavilion restrooms will also be available to companions while they are waiting.

• If you are traveling from out of state, please allow for an additional one to two days for COVID-19 screening if required for your home state. The test resulting time can take up to two days.
  
  
• If you are traveling within state but greater than four hours away and were unable to obtain COVID-19 return home screening in your local community, you will need to plan to travel to the Seattle area two to three days prior to your procedure to ensure your screening can be completed at Virginia Mason.
  
  
• If prescreening for COVID-19 prior to travel, it is important that you isolate yourself as much as possible between the date of your pre-travel screening test and the date of your procedure to avoid potential exposures. Stay home, separate yourself from others within your home, limit contact with pets and other animals, and wear a mask at all times, whenever you must leave your home. If, upon arrival at Virginia Mason, your pre-procedural test for COVID is positive, your procedure will be delayed for a minimum of 10 days while you recover from COVID-19.