Advocate Health Care visitor policy & information

We’re dedicated in our efforts to keep each other safe and appreciate your partnership when you visit an Advocate location.

Some of our locations use automated systems to issue temporary visitor badges for you to wear during your visit. Please bring an ID when visiting an Advocate facility.

Visitors are welcome with restrictions at some locations

During cold and flu season, we’re committed to preventing the spread of infection to our most vulnerable patients.

Locations with restrictions include:

  • Hospitals
  • Emergency departments
  • Rehabilitation units and facilities
  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • Behavioral health locations
  • Inpatient hospice
  • Infusion centers
  • Certain cancer areas including bone marrow transplant clinics

Restrictions:

  • Visitors with respiratory symptoms should not visit the locations listed above.
  • Children 12 and under should not visit the locations listed above, except healthy siblings visiting newborns in a birthing center with a caregiver.
  • As an exception, children may visit skilled nursing facilities. Other exceptions to visitor restrictions may be made in special cases if the child is symptom-free and receives approval from the care team.
  • We ask that visitors at these locations wear masks in areas where direct patient care is provided and in waiting areas.

General masking information

Masks are optional for patients, visitors and care teams with the following exceptions:

  • To help protect our most vulnerable patients, we ask that visitors wear masks in all locations with restrictions listed above, including direct patient care areas, waiting areas and areas with posted signage.
  • Patients with respiratory symptoms should wear masks when outside their rooms.
  • People should wear masks in high-risk patient areas as indicated by signage.
  • Patients may ask providers, care teams and anyone who works for Advocate Health Care to wear a mask during their visit.

Masks are available at our location entrances.

Self-screen for COVID symptoms before you visit

We appreciate everyone screening themselves for COVID symptoms before entering our locations.

Have you tested positive for COVID in the past 10 days or do you have any of these symptoms?

  • Chills or fever
  • Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle, body aches or headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

If you answered no, you can safely enter our locations.

If you answered yes, consider your COVID testing options or see your doctor.