Current Visitation Guidelines

Thank you for reviewing our visitation guidelines before your visit to one of our hospitals or physician offices. Please note visitation is subject to change.

Hospitals:

As of May 9, 2022, patients and visitors to Covenant Health member hospitals are not required to wear a mask unless:

You currently have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 that are not caused by another known reason (examples: shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, loss of taste or smell)
You currently have a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19
Within the last 10 days, you have been exposed to anyone confirmed to have COVID-19

Patients and visitors who prefer to wear a mask may do so. Healthcare workers, including employees, physicians and volunteers, may not be required to wear a mask in their areas, but patients may kindly ask members of their care team to wear masks if the patient would like them to do so.

Protect Yourself and Help Us Protect Our Patients and Staff! If you have symptoms such as fever, cough, a runny nose or sore throat, please consider postponing your visit. If you have any of the symptoms listed or similar ones associated with illnesses like cold and flu, please wear a mask, remain in the room with the patient and limit travel within the hospital to the cafeteria and vending machine areas.

Updated May 24, 2023

Inpatients: Patients may have one visitor at a time during their stay. Special circumstances may warrant additional visitors.
Isolation patients, including suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients: Visitation is limited to one visitor at a time. The visitor should remain in the room and wear appropriate PPE.
Labor and delivery patients: Mothers may have one support person (with matching armband), plus two visitors at a time during the stay, plus siblings of the newborn. A professional doula may also be present.
Emergency department patients: ED patients may have one visitor at a time.
Day Surgery, ambulatory and outpatients: Visitation is limited to one visitor at a time.
Behavioral Health units: Visitation is limited to one visitor at a time.
Patients with disabilities: Provisions will be made to ensure support persons are authorized to stay and/or visit patients with disabilities.
Clergy: In-person clergy visits will be permitted at the request of patients or a patient’s family, provided clergy members follow hospital safety and patient care requirements.
Minors: Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to visit in our hospitals except under extraordinary circumstances.

Health & Rehabilitation Centers:

Our health and rehabilitation centers currently allow visitation by families and friends of patients. We kindly ask that all visitors follow these guidelines in order to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19:

Perform frequent hand hygiene, including when entering and exiting the facility.
Contact the facility directly regarding current mask requirements and other visitation guidelines.
- Claiborne Health and Rehabilitation Center: 423-526-2188
- Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Transitional Care Unit: 865-331-1111

Medical Practices:

As of May 2, 2022, patients and visitors to Covenant Health outpatient care settings and physician offices will not be required to wear a mask unless:

You currently have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 that are not caused by another known reason (examples: shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, loss of taste or smell)
You currently have a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19
Within the last 10 days, you have been exposed to anyone confirmed to have COVID-19

Covenant Medical Group Offices:

You may have one support person with you during your appointment. If more than one support person is essential to your treatment or care, please contact your provider prior to your appointment to discuss necessity.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Offices:

You may have one adult support person 18 years or older with you during your appointment.