Visitation policy

Guests and loved ones are critical to the healing process for children who are receiving medical care and staying overnight in the hospital.

Quiet time is important, too

While having family and friends visit is essential, allowing peace and quiet for a sick child to rest is also an important part of the recovery process. The medical team may request that you limit visitation based on your child’s medical condition.

Security in the Children's Tower (acute care pediatrics and pediatric intensive care) 

Our pediatric inpatient units are secured at all times to ensure that children are in a protected and caring environment. A parent is encouraged to spend the night in their child’s room.

• A photo ID is required for everyone 18 and older. If you do not have a photo ID, you will not be permitted to visit.
• Visually identifying a visitor is not permitted.
• The security guard will sign you in and out each time you arrive and leave.
• Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Security in the NICU (Critical Care Hospital – 6th floor)

Parents are welcome in the NICU at any time. The greeter will assist you with entering the unit and locating your baby’s room. If you arrive at a time when the greeter is not at te desk, press the intercom button on the left side of the hall just before the double doors which lead into the unit. A member of the NICU care team will answer the intercom and assist you or your visitors.

Siblings, other family members and friends are considered visitors. In an effort to decrease exposure to infection, we strongly recommend that the number of different visitors a baby receives is limited. We do encourage sibling visitation. Please ask your baby’s nurse for more information.

Security in the Transitional Care Unit (Brook Road Pavilion)

We welcome parents at all times. Please speak with your child’s care team about visiting hours for siblings and other visitors.

• A photo ID is required for everyone 18 and older. If you do not have a photo ID, you will not be permitted to visit.

Security at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children

Being in the hospital can be frightening for a child. We encourage parents/guardians to be present at VTCC as much as possible during their child's hospitalization. A parent/guardian may spend the night with their child when clinically appropriate.

• All adult visitors are required to sign in and out with the receptionist and provide a picture ID.
• Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Our commitment to a drug-free campus: What to know ahead of your next appointment

We believe it is in the best interest of our patients, visitors and the community to remain a smoke-free, firearm-free and drug-free campus.

While it is now legal in Virginia for people 21 and older to have small amounts of marijuana for personal use, marijuana remains an illegal substance under federal law.

Since our health system follows federal guidelines pertaining to marijuana, many of our VCU Health policies remain the same.

What this means for patients and visitors: 

• We do not allow the possession or consumption of any amount of marijuana in any VCU Health-owned, operated or leased facility or on our campuses.
• Please do not bring any amount of marijuana to an appointment or when visiting a loved one.
• We will ask any patient or visitor found to be in possession of any amount of marijuana or using marijuana while on our premises to remove the substance from our facility and campus setting right away or it will be confiscated and held securely for thirty days before being destroyed.
• Consuming marijuana in public or offering it to people in public, as a gift or otherwise, is illegal under the law.