OHSU Patient Visiting Hours and Policies

A young girl sits on a hospital bed in Doernbecher Children's Hospital, playing games with her dad who is visiting her.

Supporting friends and family is an important part of healing. Follow this guide to know when you can visit patients at OHSU. 

On this page you’ll find:

Hospital patient visiting hours

Some areas limit the number of visitors allowed at a time. Contact the patient’s care team for details about visiting patient rooms.  

OHSU visitor policies

All patients have the right to:

  • Bring someone to support them during a clinic visit or hospital stay
  • Choose who can and can’t visit them
  • Choose who can and can’t make medical decisions for them

Patients with disabilities have the right to:

  • List three people to support them during a clinic or hospital visit
  • Have at least one support person with them in the hospital

Read the full support for patients with disabilities policy.

After surgery or a procedure: All patients need an adult support person to help with discharge and getting home.

Overnight stays: In some cases, visitors may stay in the room with a hospital patient overnight. Contact the patient’s care team to plan your stay.

  • Adult patients may have one adult overnight visitor.
  • Child patients may have two adult overnight visitors.

These areas have more limits for visitors. Read our full patient visitor policy before you visit one of these areas. Contact the patient’s care team to learn more.

Visitor limits in OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

The hospital’s pediatric cancer unit allows:

  • Two visitors at a time
  • Two adult overnight visitors
  • Four visitors at a time at end of life
  • The same eight visitors only during the patient’s admission

The hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) allows:

  • Two healthy visitors at a time

Visitor limits in labor and delivery

  • Visitors must not have been exposed to diseases like chicken pox or strep throat in the last three weeks.
  • Visitors holding infants should have clean clothes and hands. Gowns are available.
  • Patients who have a cesarean section can have one support person with them. We will provide them with protective equipment. If the patient needs general anesthesia, the support person will be asked to leave the operating room.

Visitor limits for cancer clinics, exams and infusion

Cancer clinics allow:

  • Two healthy visitors in the clinic and exam rooms
  • One healthy visitor in the infusion unit
  • Visitors must be 16 or older, or a baby the patient is nursing
  • Additional visitors may attend clinic visits virtually by phone
  • Visitors may need to wear protective equipment

Visitor limits in adult intensive care areas

Intensive care units allow:

  • Two visitors at a time
  • At end of life, four visitors at a time
  • No overnight visitors

Visitor limits for bone marrow transplants

Visitors to the adult unit must be 12 or older. Child visitors are allowed in the pediatric unit. Live plants and latex balloons are not allowed.

We screen all visitors for signs of illness daily. Visitors are not allowed who:

  • Feel sick or show signs of illness like fever or cough
  • Were recently exposed to a contagious disease
  • Got a smallpox or Varivax vaccine in the last 28 days

Visitors must:

  • Wear a sticker showing they were screened
  • Wear a mask for most or all of their visit
  • Use the visitor restroom, not the patient’s restroom
  • Ask the nurse before bringing outside food

COVID-19 and masking policy

OHSU recommends people ages 2 and older wear masks in health care settings.  

Gun policy

No guns on OHSU property: Per ORS 166.377 and OHSU Policy, possession of firearms on OHSU property is not permitted.  This prohibition includes those licensed to carry a concealed firearm.  The affirmative defense of ORS 166.370(3)(g) for those with a concealed handgun license does not apply on OHSU property. 

OHSU visitor services

Accommodations for patients and patient visitors

If you need an accommodation, please contact the patient’s care team before your visit.

Interpreter services

OHSU offers free interpreter and translation services for people whose main language isn't English, or for people who have a hearing disability. Ask the patient’s care team or call 503-494-8311

Spiritual and chaplain support

OHSU chaplains are available if you or loved ones would like guidance, prayer or emotional support during your hospital visit. We can also help you find clergy in your faith. If you would like a visit from a chaplain, please ask your care team or 503-494-8777.  

OHSU Hospital chaplain

  • Ninth floor, Room 9C07, behind the colorful glass
  • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday
  • Emergency-basis evenings and Sundays
  • 503-494-8777 

OHSU Hospital Interfaith Sanctuary

  • Ninth floor, Room 9C05, across from the surgery waiting room 

OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital spiritual support

OHSU Hospital Treasures Gift Shop

Brighten a patient’s day with a card or gift from Treasures Gift Shop. You’ll find toys, books, gum, lip balm, snacks, toiletries, magazines and more. Gift wrapping available.  

  • Ninth floor
  • 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
  • Closed holidays
  • 503-494-5761

Other visitor services

Contact us

If you need help planning a visit, please call 503-494-8311

Prepare for your patient visit

Find out how to prepare for your:

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