Visiting a patient

• Children may visit if supervised at all times by a responsible adult other than the patient. Visitors under 16 years of age may be screened by a nurse for infectious diseases.
• Do not visit if you have a cold, virus, rash or recent exposure to a communicable disease.
• All units observe quiet time, but the hours differ from unit to unit. This quiet time has been set to encourage patient rest. All TVs, radios and lights will be turned off and the hallway lights will be dimmed. We ask that visitors not come during this time or, if you choose to stay at the bedside, please refrain from talking.
• Visitors must wear shirts and shoes.
• Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the hospital and is prohibited in all outdoor areas on the Sacramento campus of UC Davis.  Read more about alternatives and stop-smoking resources 
• If you require special visiting arrangements or restrictions, please talk with your nurse.
• Visitors who are disruptive must leave when requested to do so by a nurse, UC Davis police officer or member of our medical center staff.

• In some cases special techniques called isolation precautions are used to make sure specific germs do not spread from person to person. Visitors may be asked to wear gowns, gloves or masks and follow hand-cleaning procedures. In some cases, a private room will be required. Nurses will explain these procedures. We place a high priority on safety, and visitors reluctant to use isolation techniques will be asked to leave. If you have questions, please ask your health-care provider.

• Visitors must display temporary badges from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Obtain badges at the emergency department lobby or the information desk at the hospital entrance.

• Please use the intercom phone station located at the ICU entry doors to call the nurses station every time you would like to enter.
• In most cases, two visitors may be with a patient at one time.
• You may be asked to leave promptly if requested due to the emergent needs of patients in the intensive care unit.
• Make prior arrangements with a nurse before bringing children to visit a patient in an ICU setting, since the sights and sounds may be upsetting.

• Children are allowed only with special arrangement, and must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
• Nursery visits are limited to parents, who may visit at any time.

• Parents may visit at any time.
• A responsible adult must supervise visiting children at all times.

• Relatives and friends of a patient in surgery may wait in the surgery waiting area on the third floor. For information about a patient’s progress and location, please check in at the information desk located in the waiting area.
• Visitors seeking a pre-operative visit with a patient scheduled for morning surgery should plan to arrive before 6 a.m.

A variety of short- and long-term parking options are available for visitors. For directions to UC Davis Medical Center, a parking map and a walking map of the hospital's main floor, please visit the Maps and Directions page.

For questions or additional information about our visitor policy (Policy 2878), please ask a nurse or staff member.

Cell phone use

Cell phone use is generally allowed except where signs or staff indicate that phones must be turned off. While conversing on a cell phone, you must stay at least three feet away from all medical devices and patients connected to them. When restrictions are in place, the phone function must be fully powered off (not set to vibrate or silent mode), but you may continue to use Wi-Fi in airplane mode. Restrictions may change or be set on a case-by-case basis.

Wireless Internet access

UC Davis Medical Center provides Internet access points at no charge in areas throughout the hospital and nearby buildings for guests who have devices that can receive wireless signals. You will be able to get on the Internet when you are near an access point. Guests are expected to use the wireless access in a legal and responsible manner.

Typically the wireless connection will automatically be detected by your device, or you can connect manually through your device's Wi-Fi settings.

Gift and flower shop

The gift shop in the first floor main lobby area is open Sunday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patients are not permitted, but a patient-care employee, family member, or volunteer may obtain gifts or sundries for them.

Cafeteria

Visitors are welcome to eat in the Pavilion Cafe, located in the first-floor main lobby area. Cafe hours are generally from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., reopening from 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. and again from 1 to 4 a.m. Breakfast is available from 6 to 10 a.m.; lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. Limited self-service is available at other times, including the late-night cafe hours.

Vending machines are available on the first floor near the emergency department waiting area and on the third floor near the surgery reception waiting area. Patients are not permitted in the cafe, but any staff member, family member or volunteer may obtain food for them.

ATMs

ATMs are located at the hospital’s west entrance and at the main entrance near the information desk.

Pastoral services and meditation room/chapel

Chaplains are available 24 hours daily to provide pastoral care services and spiritual support to all. To contact a chaplain, call 916-734-3657 (4-3657 on a hospital phone), or call or text pager 916-816-7729 and leave a call-back number.

The Battistella Meditation Room/All-Faith Chapel on the first floor is a quiet place to sit, relax and reflect, and has regular services and events.

Pets and service animals

We recognize the important role pets and service animals have in our lives. Service animals are generally permitted. Visits by pets — all animals other than service animals — are permitted in some instances. There are specific requirements that apply to both service animals and pets. For more information or questions, please ask our staff.

No smoking policy

UC Davis enforces a strict no-smoking policy inside the hospital, its facilities and in all outdoor areas on the Sacramento campus. Read more about alternatives and stop-smoking resources 

Parking

Parking Structure 3 is the main and long-term parking for the hospital, with no time limit. It is located off X Street. Short-term parking is also available in Lot 3, located off X Street next to the traffic circle at the main hospital entrance. Parking is approximately $2 per hour. Visitors can purchase a discounted five-day pass from the attendant.

Brief patient drop-offs and pick-ups are allowed in the driveway at the hospital main entrance. Please be careful of pedestrians, and do not block traffic or leave your vehicle unattended.

For additional information, call 916-734-2687.

Courtesy shuttle service

UC Davis Health's shuttle offers convenient, on-site transportation within the medical center campus. Routes connect the hospital with various buildings, parking lots and other locations, including public transportation stops.

Accommodations

For information about nearby hotel accommodations or accessing health-care services at UC Davis, call our Consumer Resource Center from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284).

Security

Uniformed university police and security personnel are on duty throughout the hospital 24 hours a day.  If you see or hear anything that concerns you, please notify a member of our staff immediately. 

More resources

For additional information on nearby lodging, local restaurants and food delivery options, grocery stores and miscellaneous services click here.