Putting Your Safety First
Welcome to University of Utah Health. As always, we're here for all of your health care needs, whether virtually or in person. We are taking extra precautions during this time to ensure that we can continue to provide the best and most timely care possible in a safe environment.
The health of our patients, caregivers, families, and visitors is our top priority. This includes taking steps consistent with Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for everyone who enters our facility. Our providers and staff are highly vaccinated.
Patient Appointments at U of U Health Hospitals & Clinics
How to Prepare for Your Appointment & What to Expect
Face Masks: To prepare for your appointment at a U of U Hospital or clinic, please bring a well-fitting face mask to wear. We require all patients and their visitors to wear face masks at all times. These masks need to cover your nose and mouth. Because the COVID-19 variant Omicron is highly transmissible, we recommend wearing a well-fitting mask.
If you do not have a mask, we will provide one for you. If you refuse to wear a face mask for the protection of yourself and others, we cannot allow you to enter.
Vaccine Status: While we do not require you to have a vaccine to enter our health centers and clinics, we highly recommend that all children over five and adults are vaccinated and boosted according to CDC guidelines.
Number of People: Please limit the number of people who come with you to regular appointments and screenings.
COVID Symptoms: Please consider delaying your appointment If you are:
- experiencing COVID-19 symptoms,
- waiting for COVID-19 test results, or
- it has been fewer than 10 days since you tested positive for COVID-19.
You can also schedule a virtual visit.
Out of State Patients: If you have been vaccinated, please bring your vaccine card with you.
Testing
If you are a patient coming for an appointment, you do not need to take a COVID test before your appointment. If you are coming for a procedure or overnight stay, please review the guidelines below.
You can find guidelines about what to expect for your specific appointment in MyChart.
Virtual Visits
Many of our providers can meet with you virtually. Please check with the health center/clinic or provider you wish to see. They will help you navigate what type of visit is best for you.
Patient Procedures & Overnight Stays: What to Expect
To Prepare
Face Masks: To prepare for your appointment at a U of U Hospital or clinic, please bring a well-fitting face mask to wear. We require all patients and their visitors to wear face masks at all times. These masks need to cover your nose and mouth. Because the COVID-19 variant Omicron is highly transmissible, we recommend wearing a well-fitting mask.
If you do not have a mask, we will provide one for you. If you refuse to wear a face mask for the protection of you and others, we cannot allow you to enter.
Vaccine Status: While we do not require you to have a vaccine to enter our health centers and clinics, we highly recommend that all children over five and adults are vaccinated and boosted according to CDC guidelines.
COVID Symptoms: If you are experiencing COVID symptoms, please talk to your provider about next steps.
Out of State Patients: If you have been vaccinated, please bring your vaccine card with you.
Testing & Costs
Testing
For some procedures, you will need to take a COVID test beforehand; however, this does not apply to all procedures. Your provider will let you know whether or not you need a COVID test before you come in for your procedure or appointment.
COVID Testing Before Procedure: If you are coming to a hospital, health center, or clinic for a procedure, you will need to take a COVID test before your procedure. This applies even if you have been vaccinated. These tests are done by saliva testing. See your COVID screening form for how to schedule this test.
Costs
You will not be personally charged for COVID testing. However, to cover test costs, we will bill either your insurance or other government programs.
At your test, you will receive a flyer about the process to pay for COVID testing and what we need from you.
Visitor Guidelines
If you are visiting a patient at U of U Hospitals and Clinics OR coming with a patient for a procedure, you must wear a well-fitting facemask. If you do not wear one, we will give you a facemask to wear. If you refuse to wear one, we cannot allow you to enter.
For the number of visitors that can come with you and age guidelines, please view the full visitor policy.
Safety Measures
For Patients
Virtual care for clinical visits
Contact-less registration and checkout
Wait-in-car or physically distant lobby
During Your Visit
Restricted visitor policy
Universal masking for patients and caregivers
Strict hand washing compliance
Enhanced-cleaning practices
Covid-19 patient area
COVID-19 Patient Isolation
If you are a patient who we suspect has COVID or is confirmed COVID-positive, we will isolate you in a dedicated area. This is to avoid cross-contamination with other patients. We take every precaution so that only caregivers with the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) care for these patients in the designated areas.
Following Safety Protocols
We are following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and appropriate state guidelines to keep you and our teams safe. Thank you for helping us support and protect one another. Together we will adapt to our new normal.