At MSK, we make every effort to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our patients and visitors.
For everyone’s safety and convenience, visitors should register one day in advance using our visitor registration form. Visitors must be at least 12 years old.
All visitors are screened for recent COVID-19 symptoms, and visitors who have any symptoms will not be allowed to visit.
We require that patients, visitors, and staff wear masks in all patient care areas at all times. This includes patient rooms, waiting rooms, and the lobbies of all buildings. Visitors in the cafeteria must wear masks when they are not eating.
Please remember that kindness matters. MSK is a place for healing. There is zero tolerance for any disrespectful behavior. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Read more detailed information below for visitors to inpatients, outpatients, surgery and procedure patients, and pediatric patients. This includes COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements.
Visitors to Inpatients
- Visitors to Memorial Hospital should enter and check in at the main entrance at 1275 York Avenue.
- All visitors to inpatients must show photo identification. These visitors must also show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or show proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours (3 days) before the visit. For vaccination, we require that you have received your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least 2 weeks ago, or your first dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine at least 2 weeks ago.
- Visiting hours for the inpatient hospital units, including the inpatient unit at the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care, are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. An inpatient can have up to 2 registered visitors per day, but only 1 visitor can be with the patient at a time.
- Visiting hours for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Memorial Hospital are from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A patient in the ICU can have up to 2 registered visitors per day, but only 1 visitor can be with the patient at a time.
- Visitation is not permitted for patients who test newly positive for COVID-19 upon admission to MSK until 10 days after the patient first tested positive.
- Exceptions may be provided for patients at the end of life. Please ask a nurse about this policy.
Visitors to Outpatients
- We request that all visitors for outpatient appointments are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Patients who have a healthcare provider appointment, bloodwork, infusion such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or radiology tests such as MRI, CT, PET scans, X-Rays, and nuclear medicine can have 1 visitor with them.
- Patients at the Symptom Care Clinics (SCCs), Urgent Care Center (UCC), and Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) can have 1 visitor. Visitors to patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be permitted in the UCC or CDU until 10 days after the patient first tested positive.
Visitors to Surgery and Procedure Patients
- Patients having surgery, interventional radiology (IR), and endoscopy procedures can have 1 visitor. Visitors can wait in the lobby or cafeteria during the procedure if there is enough room. Otherwise, visitors must leave MSK until the patient is able to have a visitor after the procedure.
- All visitors to patients staying overnight and being admitted after surgery must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or show proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours (3 days) before the visit. For vaccination, we require that you have received your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least 2 weeks ago, or your first dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine at least 2 weeks ago.
- Visitors to patients admitted to inpatient units are permitted during visiting hours, which are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Patients staying overnight at MSK’s Josie Robertson Surgery Center can have 1 visitor stay overnight with them.
Visitors to Pediatric Patients
- All visitors to pediatric inpatients must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or show proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours (3 days) before the visit. For vaccination, we require that you have received your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least 2 weeks ago, or your first dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine at least 2 weeks ago.
- Pediatric inpatients can have 1 caregiver with them around the clock. A second caregiver, age 12 or older, is permitted during visiting hours. Visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Pediatric inpatient caregivers can switch during visiting hours. Please talk to your care team before switching caregivers to ensure a smooth transition.
- All pediatric inpatients and the caregivers accompanying them, regardless of vaccination status, will be tested for COVID-19 test upon admission, as well as weekly during the inpatient stay. Patients and caregivers who show proof of a COVID-19 infection after December 1, 2021, do not need to be tested weekly during the stay.
- Two caregivers are permitted to attend Pediatric Ambulatory Care Center (PACC) appointments. However, if the patient has an outpatient appointment outside the PACC, such as in radiology or rehabilitation, only one caregiver can accompany the patient to that appointment.
Virtual Visitor Program
While the number of in-person visitors at MSK is limited, our staff can provide tablets for patients in the hospital to connect with caregivers and loved ones. Our staff can also help you use them if needed.
Patients receiving treatment in our outpatient locations can use the technology in our treatment rooms to video chat with caregivers and loved ones during appointments.
If you’re new to using technology to keep in contact, we’ve put together some information about how to use common apps to get you started.