Updated Visitor Restrictions for Wilmot Cancer Institute

Dear Wilmot Cancer Institute Patients,

Our primary goal at UR Medicine is to provide the very best quality of care in an environment that is safe for everyone. To protect our patients, their loved ones, and our caregivers, we must manage their exposure to any illnesses that are easily spread.

Given the extreme public health risks surrounding COVID-19, and in accordance with the Monroe County Department of Public Health, we have taken the difficult and unprecedented action of eliminating virtually all hospital visitors to prevent potential spread of this virus, until further notice.

Therefore, effective Monday, April 6, 2020, Wilmot Cancer Institute will no longer permit patients to have visitors in its outpatient settings for the safety of our patients, staff and providers. This includes infusion centers, clinics and radiation oncology. This new visitor policy will be in place until further notice and applies to all Wilmot Cancer Institute locations.

For visitors who accompany patients to appointments, Wilmot has designated waiting areas outside its facilities, and information about those areas will be provided.

This zero-visitor policy will be in place with very limited exceptions. One caregiver (caregiver can be a parent or another visitor) will be permitted for patients with extreme extenuating circumstances, as determined by Wilmot Cancer Institute nursing leadership.

 Examples include:

• When a caregiver’s support is required to maintain a patient’s safety during an outpatient visit.
• A patient has limited English proficiency.
• A patient has limited cognitive abilities.

When an exemption is granted, Wilmot’s nursing, security and lobby staff will follow an established process to confirm the health of the caregiver prior to the patient visit.

We recognize it is important for our patients to remain in touch with their loved ones and for caregivers to be included in treatment discussions. We will do our best to use telephone and video conferencing to keep connected, and we are happy to work with you should you not have access to such devices.

If you have concerns about this policy or would like to request an exemption, please speak with a member of the screening staff at the entrance or a Wilmot Ambassador.

If you have any further questions about the visitation restrictions, please go to visitors.urmc.edu for the latest information about our visitation policy. To speak with a Patient Relations representative, please call our Visitation Information Line at 585-275-7555 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

We greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.

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