Visiting Hours and Guidelines

Visitors are important to your recovery, and WVU Hospitals welcomes them. We ask that visitors observe these guidelines.

WVU Hospitals supports patient- and family-centered care.

Patients have the right to choose who may visit them during a hospital stay—whether the visitor is a family member, a spouse, a domestic partner, or other type of visitor. Patients also have the right to refuse consent for visits at any time.

All visitors approved by the patient will have equal visiting privileges.

A maximum of two visitors per patient at a time is recommended. Exceptions can be made, as long as patient care is not interrupted and the noise from visitors is minimal.

One visitor may stay overnight. For patients of Children’s Hospital, two visitors may
stay overnight.

Overnight visitors must have special identification, which they can get in the hospital’s east main lobby. All visitors in the hospital between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. must wear an identification badge. Children under 14 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

Patient visits may be restricted for various reasons, which may include:    
a. patient choice
b. during times when procedures or assessments are being done 
c. during private talks between healthcare providers and the patient if the patient
does not want visitors to be present 
d. when emergency procedures are being done on the patient or a nearby patient.
e. where there is an infection control issue
f. when a visitor’s behavior is disruptive or presents a risk to patients or hospital staff
g. when privacy is needed for the other patient in a shared room
h. when there is a court order limiting contact with the patient
i. during substance abuse treatment, if required 
Other reasons for restricting visitation may be directed by the patient, the patient’s representative, or the hospital.
 

Other information

Please observe the hospital's tobacco-free policy. The WVUH complex is a smoke-free facility, including the outdoor areas around the hospital.

While inside the hospital, please keep your cell phone turned off, as it can interfere with important medical equipment.

Cell phones may only be used in these areas:

• the central lobby on the first floor
• near the patient elevators on each floor
• in the Cafeteria on the fourth floor