Current Visitor Policies at Monroe Carell

Masks are optional for most patients, visitors and employees in our hospitals and clinics. We ask that you respect others’ choices about masking. Some patients, including those with symptoms of respiratory infection, will be asked to wear a mask. 

Avoid visiting or accompanying a patient if you have symptoms of illness. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when you enter or leave a patient room.

These requirements may change from time to time and may differ among our seven hospitals and hundreds of clinic locations. Please review specifics below and discuss other details with hospital or clinic staff.

When your child is admitted, 2 parent-approved visitors aged 18 or older may stay with your child 24/7. Up to 4 people may be in the patient's room during visiting hours. This may be different people each day.

• Visitors must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when they enter or leave the patient room.
• Visitors who stay overnight should arrive before 8 p.m.

Child visitors age 5 and under

• Children aged 5 and under visiting patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU); on floors 6A, 6B, 10A, 10C; or following a solid organ transplant must have a health screening each day they visit. This screening should be completed by a member of the unit’s clinical team before the child may visit.
• Upon admission, parents/caregivers will receive a parent information handout so they are aware of guidelines for screening for children aged 5 and under for designated units/patients.
• After a negative screening, child visitors will be given an “apple sticker” so staff and faculty know they have been screened.
• The maximum number of people at the bedside for each patient will remain at 4, regardless of ages.

When your child is admitted to the emergency department, 4 visitors aged 16 and older are allowed. Each visitor will wear a sticker to identify themselves.

• Visitors for COVID-positive patients must remain in the patient's room.
• Visitors must always wear a mask when staff and providers are in the room. Failure to do so will result in ending visitation privileges. 
• Visitors must maintain distancing (6 feet, to the best of their ability), even in the patient room. 
• Visitors must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer regularly. 
• The parent/guardian with each COVID-positive patient receives 3 free meals each day. Call (615) 936-4780 to receive meals.

In the case of twins, 4 people may be with each patient in the NICU.

4 parents/caregivers (16 years and older) are welcome to accompany your child to the surgery waiting room on the day of surgery. Two parents/caregivers may be in the holding room before and in the recovery room after surgery.

All parents/caregivers must:

• Be free of any symptoms of COVID or flu
• Wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when entering or leaving the room

If your child is admitted to the hospital, 4 parents/caregivers may be at bedside during visiting hours.

Two caregivers may stay overnight. 

2 visitors can be with the child in these settings.