Visitor Policy

We welcome family members and friends to visit patients during their stay at UNC Health Rex.

To accommodate shift change meetings and communication with physicians, there is no visitation or calls from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Visitors entering the hospital after 8:30 p.m., and those visiting the UNC Health Rex Women's Center, will be required to sign the visitor log.

Patients have the right to enjoy equal visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences and subject to justified clinical restrictions. UNC Health Rex is committed to maintaining an environment that is safe, comfortable and conducive to quality patient care. All patient visitation is at the discretion of physicians and/or nursing staff, without discrimination and with consideration given to the wishes of the patient and any appropriate clinical restriction.

Mask Policy for UNC Health Patients and Visitors

Effective Monday, June 19, 2023, UNC Health updated our mask policy our mask policy for patients and visitors at our owned entities* to transition to “Mask Optional” in most areas, with the following exceptions:

  • Patients who have symptoms of respiratory illnesses must wear a mask.
    • Note: Individuals with respiratory symptoms should not visit our facilities unless seeking direct medical care.
  • Masks may still be required for patients and visitors in certain high-risk units and clinics identified by entity leadership and Infection Prevention. These areas include:
    • NICU

These changes to our mask policy are consistent with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and low COVID-19 infection rates across North Carolina. This policy may continue to evolve as we monitor the data related to respiratory virus transmission levels and workforce needs.

* Owned Entities = UNC Health Alliance, UNC Health Caldwell, UNC Health Chatham, UNC Health Rex, UNC Health Rockingham, UNC Hospitals, UNC Faculty Physicians and UNC Physicians Network (including UNCPN Group Practices).

This policy serves as guidance for UNC Health’s managed entities.

Critical Care

  • General Visitation: No more than two (2) visitors in the patient's room at a time. Visiting hours are 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Children may visit with care team’s approval.
  • Quiet Time & Overnight Visitation: One designated family member in the patient’s room between 9 p.m. – 9 a.m.

Medical/Surgical/Intermediate Care:

  • Up to four (4) visitors are permitted in the patient's room at a time, as space allows. Children my visit when accompanied by an adult.
  • General Visitation Hours: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Overnight visitation is allowed.

Preoperative and Level 2 Recovery Areas

  • Two (2) visitors may accompany the patient to the holding area for surgeries after 7:30 a.m.
  • Visitors must wait in designated waiting areas during surgery.
  • After surgery, brief visits in Level 1 recovery will be at the discretion of the care team.

Emergency Department:

  • One (1) visitor per patient (ages 18 and older). Visitors may switch out.
  • Upon arrival, and upon every return, all visitors must pass through a security check and check in at the desk located in the emergency department main entrance.

Women’s Center:

  • Three (3) Visitors (ages 1 and older) are allowed at the bedside. Visitors less than 1 year old can visit if they are a sibling.
  • A Doula is considered one of the three visitors.
  • Visitation is 24-hours a day.
  • Children may not spend the night in the post-partum room

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and UNC Health Rex Holly Springs Hospital Level II Nursery:

  • Parents (including same sex partners) are essential partners with the healthcare team in caregiving and decision making for their infants.
  • They are welcome to be with their infant 24 hours per day.

  • Siblings, family, and friends ages 18 and older may visit when accompanied by the infant’s parents. Two (2) visitors may be present at a time.

  • With parent approval, grandparents may visit the infant without parents present. A government issued photo ID is required.

  • During cold and flu season (Oct. – April) visitation will be limited to parents, grandparents and healthy twin or triplet siblings of the infant.

Statement of Patient Visitation Rights:

Upon admission, the hospital informs each patient (and/or his or her legal representative or support person, where appropriate) of patient's visitation rights :

  • Patient's rights to receive the visitors whom they designate, including but not limited to a spouse, domestic partner (including same sex partner) another family member or friend
  • Patient's right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time
  • Justified clinical restrictions which may be imposed on visitation rights.
  • All visitors designated by the patient enjoy visitation privileges that are no more restrictive than those that immediate family members would enjoy.
  • The hospital staff will not restrict, limit or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

Contact UNC Health Rex

To reach the hospital operator, please call 919-784-3100.

Attention Patients and Visitors

UNC Health Rex is a healing environment.

Our teammates have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Abuse of teammates, visitors or patients will not be tolerated.

  • No weapons (including guns or knives) are permitted on campus for everyone’s safety.
  • No unauthorized videotaping in patient care areas.
  • Incidents may result in removal from this facility and prosecution.

Thank you for respecting everyone’s right to an abuse free workplace.