For Our Patients and Visitors

Our organization has been dedicated to caring for people with musculoskeletal injuries and conditions for more than 160 years. Watch a gratitude and welcome message from HSS President and CEO Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA.

 

The health and safety of our patients, visitors and employees remains our top priority. We ask that you please follow these guidelines to keep everyone safe.

Health Screening

To provide the safest environment possible, please ensure you and any visitors joining you at HSS do not have any of the following:

• ANY of the symptoms below that are not related to a chronic conditions:
  • Fever ≥100.0 F/37.7 C or subjective fever or chills
  • Cough or sore throat
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Rash or new skin sore(s)
  • Fatigue, headache, or muscle or body aches
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Positive test for COVID, flu, or other respiratory illness in the last 10 days
• Exposure to someone with COVID in the last 10 days
• Positive test for a contagious disease like Measles, Mpox, Polio, or Tuberculosis in the last month

Patients: If any of the above apply to you, please notify your HSS provider before you arrive at HSS for your scheduled visit. If any of the above apply to your visitors, please advise them not to join you until they are feeling better. 
 

Visitor Policy

• Visitors should display their hospital-issued security pass at all times while visiting.
• Masking is optional for patients, visitors and staff, except in elevated risk situations or upon the request of a patient or staff member participating in a clinical interaction
• If you believe a visitor exception should be made because the patient requires mobility, cognitive or mental health support, please contact your doctor's office or 212.774.7547 to request an exception.

Outpatient Locations (doctor’s appointments, radiology, infusion therapy, rehab, nutrition, PSS, etc.) and Physician Offices

• Adult patients - One (1) visitor may accompany adult patients to an outpatient appointment or physician office visit. We continue to encourage companions join virtually. Our staff can support patients in setting up this virtual connection (via FaceTime or Zoom) when needed.
• Pediatric patients (21 years and younger) - Two (2) caregivers may accompany pediatric patients to their appointment.
• For safety reasons, some areas are restricted to patients only. A caregiver must be present for visitors under the age of 14

Day of Surgery or Procedure

• Adult patients - One (1) visitor is permitted from arrival until the patient's procedure, and then the visitor may wait in the surgical waiting room. Visitors are not permitted to switch. There is no visitation in the PACU (recovery room). The visitor may rejoin for the discharge process or in the inpatient location as described below. The visitor must be 18 years of age or older.
• Pediatric patients (21 years and younger) - Two (2) visitors are permitted from arrival until the patient's procedure, and then they may wait in the surgical waiting room. Only one (1) visitor is permitted in the PACU (recovery room). Visitors must be 18 years of age or older.

Inpatient Locations

• Adult patients – Visitation hours for adult inpatients are from 8:00am – 8:00pm daily with a maximum of two visitors at the bedside. Additional visitors may wait in the lobby and rotate during visiting hours. Visitors must be 14 years of age or older.
  • Overnight visitors for adult patients are only allowed in private inpatient rooms. Only one overnight visitor is permitted and must remain the sole overnight visitor throughout the patient’s stay. Overnight visitors must be 18 years of age or older.
• Pediatric patients (21 years and younger) - Two (2) visitors are permitted to visit at the same time from the hours of 8:00am - 8:00pm daily. Visitors must be 14 years of age or older.
  • Only one (1) visitor is permitted to stay overnight and must remain the sole overnight caregiver throughout the patient's stay. Overnight visitors must be 18 years of age or older.

Questions about your visit?

If you have nonmedical questions related to visiting HSS, communication with family and friends on the day of surgery or afterwards, please call our patient and family resource line at 212.774.7547.

Hospital rules and guidelines

The rules shown below apply in every patient room and recovery area. Please be mindful of other patients while visiting and always observe the rules listed in each area.

 

Return to Patients and Visitors page