Patient and Visitor Screening Policy


Effective August 11, 2021

At Hoag, we take our role as your health care provider to heart, and appreciate you trusting us with your health care needs.

Face Mask or Cloth Covering

Anyone entering a health care facility (e.g., health care personnel, patients, visitors) is required to wear a face mask or cloth covering at all times regardless of vaccination status.

Examples of a cloth covering include scarf, bandana, homemade mask, etc. Cloth coverings must cover mouth and nose. Please do not wear a mask with exhalation valves. If a visitor or patient arrives to the health care facility without a cloth face covering, a face mask may be supplied.

Updated Visitor Policy

Our patient care philosophy is deeply rooted in our belief that engaging patients and their families is an important part of the healing process. With that in mind, and in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are instituting new visitor policies until further notice, in the interest of the continued health and safety of our patients, visitors and staff.

Due to the rise in COVID cases and for the protection of patients, visitors and staff, the California Department of Public Health has mandated that as of August 11, all visitors to acute care hospitals in California, will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, or have a negative COVID-19 test taken within the last 72 hours. Please note that this does not apply to visitors going to outpatient departments inside of the hospital. To learn more about the state mandate visit this page.

Hospital visitors are permitted in the following circumstances:

  • All patients are allowed to have the same two support persons at a time for the duration of the day.
    • Patients in isolation may have visitors as long as they comply with use of appropriate PPE.
    • Visitation for patients in COVID-19 isolation will be limited to only extreme circumstances,
  • General visiting hours are 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. daily and visitors must arrive no later than 6 p.m. to enter. This does not apply to patients in labor, NICU patients, End of Life patients, Acute Rehab patients and Emergency Department patients where visitation hours are handled on a case by case basis.
  • Surgical/OR patients are only allowed to have one support person. Due to limited space in the OR setting and to maintain social distancing, surgical/OR patients are only allowed one support person at this time. If a surgical patient is admitted, the patient will be allowed to have two support persons at that time.
  • Maternity Patients – For new mothers laboring and delivering, they may have two adult support persons from the same household per stay, from admission to discharge. One support person is allowed to stay overnight. Patients in labor may also choose to use a doula. Prior arrangements for doula to be present must be made with the hospital and doula must comply with PPE and Infection Prevention guidelines. Patients who choose to use a doula will still be allowed two support person.
    • Doula’s are only allowed when a patient is in active labor, not when the patient is postpartum.
    • The primary support person of a patient in labor will be allowed to enter the facility if they do not have proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
    • For subsequent visits following the emergent situation and as soon as reasonably possible, the main support person must comply with the vaccine verification or applicable testing requirements within 72 hours.
    • Please be aware that doulas and a second support person must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. No exceptions.
  • Patients who may be facing end of life – We will work with families to ensure that they are able to be with their family member.
    • Support person(s) for end of life patients will be allowed to enter the facility if they do not have proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
  • Minors – Minors will be permitted to have one support person present. No other children are allowed to enter unless they are also patients.
    • Patients arriving for Emergency Services and OB Services can bring children into the hospital facility.
    • Minors who are patients and are arriving with a parent who does not have proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID test will be allowed to have 1 parent enter the facility upon the minor’s arrival.
    • For subsequent visits following the emergent situation and as soon as reasonably possible, the main support person must comply with the vaccine verification or applicable testing requirements within 72 hours.
    • If an exception is made and a minor is permitted to visit, minors who are visitors will be allowed in without proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID test.
  • Patients with physical, intellectual, and/or developmental disabilities and those with cognitive impairments in medically necessary situations may provide meaningful assistance that cannot be provided through other means, and therefore the care team may decide to temporary waive the requirement for proof of COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
  • Visiting clergy will be permitted to support the spiritual needs of our patients.
  • Visitors are not permitted to spend the night except in certain cases, including those noted above, where it may be necessary for the patient or with end of life circumstances.
  • Pet visits are restricted unless it is a service animal or visiting an End of Life patient.

Acceptable forms of proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the last 72 hours include:

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control & Prevention or WHO Yellow Card) which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date last dose administered)
  • Photo of a Vaccination Record Card as a separate document
  • Photo of the individual’s Vaccination Record Card stored on a phone or electronic device
  • CA COVID-19 Digital Vaccine Record from https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/
  • Documentation of COVID-19 vaccination from a health care provider
  • Digital copy of negative COVID-19 test
  • Hard copy of negative COVID-19 test

Please be aware that the Hoag Family Cancer Institute, Hoag Conference Center/Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute and Advanced Technology Pavilion located on the Hoag Hospital Newport Beach lower campus are considered outpatient facilities and must follow the Outpatient Visitor Policy.

Visitor Policy for Outpatient Facilities including Hoag Health Center and Hoag Urgent Care Facilities

Hoag is currently enforcing a Limited Visitor Policy at Hoag Health Center and Hoag Urgent Care facilities.

  • All patients are allowed to have one support person for outpatient areas.
  • Minors – Minors will be permitted to have two support persons present. No other children are allowed to enter unless they are also patients.

Due to limited space and to maintain social distancing, patients in the outpatient setting are only allowed one support person at this time unless otherwise noted above.

Please note that patients who arrive with their children who are not patients will be asked to reschedule their appointment for another time when child care arrangements can be made.

Our care teams will help determine the need for a patient to have a support person based on the above outlined criteria.

Any visitor who meets one of these criteria will be screened at the health facility entrance. Visitors who are ill with the following symptoms will not be permitted to visit patients. Exceptions will be made only for extreme circumstances (i.e. End of Life, Laboring Spouse).

Signs and Symptoms

  • Fever (100.0F or higher)
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Chills
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Congestion
  • Runny Nose

Approved visitors at hospital campuses will be provided with an armband.

We highly encourage alternative means of communication to provide healing support, such as phone calls, FaceTime, Google Hangouts and Skype.

As additional precautions, flower and food deliveries have been suspended in an effort to limit the number of vendors in the hospital.

The decision to restrict visitors was difficult and made only after careful consideration to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Thank you for your understanding and support as we remain committed to our mission to provide the highest quality health care to the communities we serve.

Patient Screening

All patients will be screened at the hospital entrance and at our health center and urgent care facilities.

We understand that some patients who are ill with symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, body aches, chills or new loss of taste or smell, may need to enter our facilities. Patients are asked to provide this information to the facility upon scheduling their appointment and/or upon arriving to the facility so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Patients who need immediate medical care should continue to go to the nearest Emergency Room for immediate care or call 911.

Anyone entering a health care facility (e.g., health care personnel, patients, visitors) is required to wear a face mask or cloth covering at all times. Examples of a cloth covering include scarf, bandana, homemade mask, etc. Cloth coverings must cover mouth and nose. Please do not wear a mask with exhalation valves.