Calling or Checking the Status of a Patient
To call a patient at any UC San Diego Health hospital or check on their status, call
858-657-7000 and ask for the patient by name.
Members of the media: To check the status of a hospital patient, please refer to our
Media Guidelines, or call Health Sciences Communications at 619-543-6163.
Hospital and Clinic Visits During Flu Season
Know the Symptoms of Flu
Influenza-like illness is defined as a fever greater than 100.4 F and one of the following symptoms:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Rhinorrhea (runny nose)
- Myalgias (muscle aches), arthralgias (joint aches)
- Headaches, chills, and fatigue
Symptoms sometimes include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
UC San Diego Health takes the health risks associated with influenza very seriously. The strains circulating in the community are predominantly influenza A and are affecting all age groups, including children. Because children can be contagious longer, we have changed our hospital visitation policy for the 2017-2018 flu season. As a general rule, individuals with influenza-like illness, regardless of age, should not be visiting other patients in any health care environment.
Hospital Visits
Effective December 20, UC San Diego Health will no longer allow any child under the age of 12 to visit in the hospital, even they are with an adult. This includes the cafeteria and other public areas of the hospital. Exceptions are childbirth rooms (including antepartum, Labor & Delivery, Birth Center, and postpartum rooms), where up to two children accompanied by an adult can visit their mother.
In addition, in the following areas, only two adult visitors will be allowed at one time and all visitors will be screened for influenza-like illness:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- All adult ICUs and all Progressive Care Units (PCUs)
- Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit in Jacobs Medical Center
Visitors with flu symptoms will be given a mask to wear and will be asked to leave the hospital.
Clinic Appointments
We also ask patients not to bring children under the age of 12 to appointments. Exceptions include children who are themselves patients and up to two children accompanying their mothers to their antepartum or postpartum visits.
All visitors, including children, will be screened for influenza-like illness. Visitors with symptoms will be given a mask to wear and will be asked to leave the clinic.
This policy will be in effect during the height of the flu season and will be re-evaluated in the spring.
We apologize for any inconvenience that this will cause you and your family, but we feel strongly about the importance of limiting the risks of flu exposure. Our staff can help address any potential concerns. If you are visiting a clinic, questions may be directed to a clinic manager. If you are staying overnight inside one of our hospitals, please speak with your nurse. If visitation is deemed absolutely necessary given a patient's condition or other extenuating circumstances, we will work with families on a case-by-case basis.
Visiting a Patient
At all UC San Diego Health hospitals and clinics, we do not restrict or deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, identity, sexual orientation or disability. We ensure that all visitors enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences.
We encourage you to have family or a friend present in the hospital or at clinic visits, unless it disrupts safe patient practices or safety requirements. Please check with your nurse to find out if there are any restrictions for visitors. Children under the age of 18 must be supervised. They may never be left alone.
Hospital Gift Shop
Reading materials, flowers, balloons, stamps, toiletries and gift items are all available at the Gift Shops located inside each hospital.
- At UC San Diego Medical Center in
Hillcrest, the Gift Shop is located on the first floor near the Information Desk in the main lobby. Call 619-543-5926.
- At Jacobs Medical Center in
La Jolla, the Gift Shop is located on the first floor of Thornton Pavilion. Call 858-657-6583
Sending a Gift to a Patient
To send a gift from outside the hospital, please put the patient's name along with the hospital's name and address on the package:
Services for Visitors
Food Services
Learn more about
meal services, cafés, and vending machines.
Lodging Options
There are a variety of lodging options near both hospital locations. View more information on
lodging near UC San Diego Health.
Use of Cell Phones
Patients and visitors may use cell phones in most areas of the hospital. Cell phones are not allowed in certain restricted areas with “no cell phone” signs. As a courtesy to others, please turn your cell phone ringer down low or set it to vibrate.
Picture/video and audio recording features may not be used in any area of the hospital. Note that sometimes your doctors or nurses may need to speak on their cell phones to address clinical issues. Photos of patients with family and/or care team members is permitted with verbal consent of all individuals who are part of the picture, and if it doesn’t violate the privacy of other patients or staff.
Security Services/Lost and Found
If you have questions or concerns about safety while visiting patients, day or night, or have lost or found an item, please call our Security Services Office. For the Security Services Office at UC San Diego Medical Center, call 619-543-3762; for Jacobs Medical Center and Thornton Pavilion, call 858-657-6420.
ATM Locations
- Hillcrest
- UC San Diego Medical Center: First-floor hallway by the Emergency Department
- La Jolla
- Thornton Pavilion: The Cove cafe, first floor (walk through checkout area, and the ATM is in a room to the right)
- Moores Cancer Center: Second-floor hallway near restrooms
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