Visitation Policy | Tampa General Hospital

Visitation Policy

Accessibility Information

All changes effective April 6, 2023

We thank you in advance for your support in helping us maintain the safety of patients, their loved ones and our team members.

We ask that you remain respectful with our team members  and always follow the visitation guidelines.

  • All children under 16 must be accompanied by a non-patient adult and supervised at all times. Children will be expected to behave in a manner consistent with a healing environment.
    • Children under 12 are not permitted to visit patients in isolation or at high risk for infection unless authorized by the Nurse Manager, Charge Nurse or AOD.
  • Upon entry, you must provide a government issued photo identification card.

UPDATE TO MASK POLICY

  • Masks are no longer required in patient care areas unless:
    • It is identified by a team member that you will need to wear a mask (areas or patient rooms which require a stricter level of masking).
    • You are suspected to have a respiratory infection (runny nose, coughing, sneezing).
  • We will no longer test our asymptomatic patients for COVID-19. This includes admission screenings and pre-procedure COVID-19 tests.
  • We will continue to test our patients if they are symptomatic using the mini respiratory panel (flu, COVID-19, RSV). 
  • Post-placement COVID-19 testing will continue as it is still required by most long-term care, assisted living facilities, etc.
  • At any time, you may continue to wear a mask if you prefer.

Visitor Hours - Main Hospital

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Suggested Daytime Visitation Capacity is three persons at a time per patient and requires a daytime visitor pass issued by the hospital.
  • Please ask your visitors to coordinate their schedules.
  • A new badge must be obtained every day (each morning the overnight visitor must obtain a new day pass badge at the front desk, so they are considered one of the three approved daytime visitors).
    • Day and Overnight Visitor capacity or hours may require reduction for patient care and safety needs.
      • Patients in strict isolation may require that the duration of visits is limited for the safety of the visitor.
      • Visitors may be asked to step outside the room for specific procedures which would introduce risk to the patient or visitor.
    • Visitors must utilize PPE (personal protective equipment) as directed by members of the team

Weapons Screening

Effective January 2, 2023

To ensure the safety and health of all those who enter our hospital, all patients, visitors and vendors are required to go through weapons screening prior to entering the hospital starting January 2, 2023. No firearms or weapons are permitted on hospital property. Our number one priority is to protect patients, visitors, volunteers, team members and physicians.

  • All persons will be asked to enter through a walk-through weapons screening unit located at the hospital Main Entrance or Emergency Department screening checkpoints. Dedicated TGH security officers will be stationed around the clock at each weapons screening checkpoint.
  • Patients and visitors will no longer be able to re-enter the facility at the East Pavilion entrance or the West Pavilion exit doors. All patients and visitors must be screened upon each entry.
  • All patients and visitors wanting to visit McDonald’s must enter through the hospital Main Entrance, have a purpose for being at the hospital, and obtain a visitor pass to access McDonald’s.
  • Anyone with a pacemaker or is simply not comfortable with the walk-through unit can request a hand search.
  • Any person utilizing a metal personal mobility device, such as a wheelchair, walker or cane, will be hand-wand or hand-searched, as appropriate.
  • Please remove large metal objects such as laptops, umbrellas, etc. and hold them out for Security to see. 
  • Do not remove items such as keys, wallets, phones, etc.  from your pockets or belongings.

Failure to consent to screening or inspection will result in denial of entry. Thank you for your cooperation to ensure the safety of all TGH team members, patients, visitors and volunteers.

Service Animal Entry

As defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is a dog or miniature horse that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Emotional support animals are not covered under the ADA and therefore not permitted at TGH. See detailed hospital regulations regarding animal entry.

Overnight Visitation

  • Overnight visitation is limited to one patient-designated support person.
    • Overnight Visitation Capacity allows one adult person (18+), per night.
  • Pediatric patients may have two parents/guardians present at all times.
    • Overnight visitors should remain in the room of their loved one and refrain from moving about the hospital except for using public restrooms.
    • The overnight visitor in semi-private rooms is expected to remain on the side of the room with their loved one and refrain from interfering with the roommate of their loved one. In the case that the roommate of a patient has significant objection to an overnight visitor, every attempt will be made to find other rooming arrangements, but the visitor may be asked to stay in the unit waiting room during the night.

Area-Specific Information

Operating Rooms/Procedural Areas

  • 2 people may accompany during surgery/procedure. 1 person may accompany for a test. Visitor may leave and return.
  • Family members accompanying a patient for early morning surgical cases may arrive before 8:00 a.m.

Labor and Delivery

  • A doula is considered part of the healthcare team and therefore, is not considered one of the three persons visiting.

Pediatrics/PICU/NICU

  • Visitation to minor children will be determined by the parent/guardian of the child and the parent/guardian must be present during the visit unless permission is given by parent/guardian for a specific support in their absence. 

Adult Emergency Department

  • 1 person may accompany patients in the Adult Emergency Department.
  • For everyone’s safety, when volumes do not allow for physical distancing, we may ask the visitor to remain in their car until the patient is placed in his or her room.
  • Visitors of patients in the Emergency Department who have been admitted to the hospital and are waiting for an inpatient room may be asked to wait in an alternative waiting area.

Pediatric Emergency Department

  • 2 parents/guardians may accompany the child.

Complaints

If you or your loved one have been met with resistance when attempting to visit with loved ones, you may file a complaint with the Agency for further review and action.