Starting tomorrow, we will be screening patients and visitors for symptoms of acute respiratory illness (e.g., fever, cough, difficulty breathing) before entering UI Hospitals & Clinics. We recognize this may be inconvenient, however it is a needed precaution to protect the health and safety of our patients and employees. This practice is currently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This will begin in two locations tomorrow, and will expand to the full plan below over the course of the coming week:

  1. Patients, visitors, and other members of the public will be directed to a screening location at one of six identified entrances. Those screened will then receive a sticker to wear for the day.
  2. At this time, UI Health Care faculty and staff will not need to be screened. Please use hand hygiene precautions, and if you develop respiratory symptoms, you should contact your supervisor before coming to work.
  3. To expedite entering the building, we have designated certain entrances for patient and visitors and for employees use, listed below.

Entrances open to patients and visitors only:

The following entrances will be open to patients, visitors, and other members of the public (not employees). All patients and visitors will be screened for symptoms at each of these entrances.

Listed below are the hours each entrance will be open:

  • Main Hospital Entrance (Roy Carver Pavilion): 24/7 – beginning Friday, March 13
  • UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital Entrance: 24/7
  • Pomerantz Family Pavilion, Level 2 from Parking Ramp 4 Skyway: 24/7
  • Pomerantz Family Pavilion West Entrance (Cancer Center): 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday

Open to certain patients:

  • Family Medicine circle drive near Parking Ramp 4: This entrance is only for Family Medicine Clinic patients or MyChart video- or phone-visit follow-up appointments.
  • Emergency Department restriction: Patients and visitors will be able to enter the Emergency Department as usual. However, the public will not be able to travel inside from the E.D. to other parts of the main hospital. Staff may use badge access.

The following entrance is open to BOTH employees and patients/visitors:

  • Level 2 skyway into RCP (from Ramps 2 and 3 and WCTC, above Main Entrance): 24/7 – beginning Friday, March 13

Signage and lanes will be labeled for employees or patients/visitors. Patients and visitors will be screened. If you are an employee, have your badge visible or ready. 

Entrances open to staff only

Beginning at 9 p.m., Friday, March 13, UI Health Care employees and volunteers will need to use badge access to open the following doors:

  • From Parking Ramp 4, the tunnel into Lower Level Pomerantz Family Pavilion
  • South and north doors of the connector between UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital and John Pappajohn Pavilion
  • General Hospital West Entrance (across from Parking Ramp 1)
  • Shipping and Receiving dock, south door by mail room
  • Interior doors from the College of Medicine into General Hospital on Levels 1, 2, and Lower Level

To keep everyone safe, we are counting on our staff to not let in members of the public through these staff doors. All other exterior doors not listed here will be locked. 

Other locations

At this time, other UI Health Care locations are being assessed, and screenings may be put in place at additional facilities at a later date.

Staff pickup/drop-off

Please limit staff drop-offs and pick-ups at busy entrances to the hospital to keep traffic moving. Vehicles should wait in Lot 43 (near Kinnick and WCTC), not by the hospital. Drivers who are in their vehicles will not be ticketed in Lot 43.

The safety of our patients, faculty, staff, and volunteers is a top priority for UI Health Care. We are committed to doing everything we can to support our community in response to COVID-19.

Suresh Gunasekaran
Chief Executive Officer, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Associate Vice President, University of Iowa Health Care