Stem Cell Transplant Visitor Policy

Visiting hours for stem cell transplant patients at Phoenix Children's Hospital are 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., however, they can be flexible.

When visiting a stem cell transplant patient:

• Wash you hands and arms up to the elbows for no less than one minute. Rescrub if you leave the unit and then return.
• Limit your visits if the patient appears tired or fatigued. The patient may not be feeling well enough to socialize and may be too polite to ask a visitor to leave.

Visitation Guidelines

Ages

Children ages 12 and younger are discouraged from visiting because they are often exposed to and carry childhood illnesses that are extremely harmful to stem cell transplant patients and can be difficult to screen.

Maximum Visitors

During the day, there is no specific number of visitors a patient is allowed to have.

However, the more visitors a patient, has the higher the chance of being exposed to an illness. For this reason, limiting the number of visitors is strongly recommended.

Overnight Policy

Due to the limited space and availability of beds, only one caregiver is allowed to stay the night in the patient's room.

The hospital highly discourages caregivers sleeping in the same bed with the patient, or the patient sleeping in a sleeper chair with the caregiver.

Pets

No pets are allowed in the patient's room (including pet therapy pets).

In-Room Guidelines

Check with the nurse or dietitian before you bring foods for the patient. The patient will be on a special diet designed for the stem cell transplant patient.

Do not put your shoes on the patient's bed, and do not use the patient's bathroom (there are visitor bathrooms located on the unit.)

No live flowers or plants are allowed in stem cell transplant rooms.

Visitors With Illnesses

Any visitor who has a fever, cold, or any kind of illness or has been exposed to any kind of illness should NOT come to the unit.

RSV Restrictions

During Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV) season (usually about December–April), all hospital staff and visitors that enter a stem cell transplant patient's room are required to wear a mask to ensure patient safety.

During this time, visitation is not allowed for individuals ages 16 and younger.

Out of Room

Patients are not allowed out of their rooms unless they need to travel for a procedure.  When leaving their room, patients wear an N95 mask.

Please contact us if you have questions about visitation or anything else related to the stem cell transplant process.