Don't delay care in case of emergency: call 911. Our emergency departments are open and available to provide you and your family with safe essential care.

We're Here to Care for You – Safely

Patient safety is our top priority at every UW Medicine hospital and clinic 

patient and doctor in office

UW Medicine is open, safe and available for appointments

Safety measures for in-person visits

UW Medicine has made in-person appointments even safer, with requirements for masking, screening and more.

Expanded telehealth capabilities

Since COVID-19 was discovered in our community, we have greatly expanded our telehealth services to allow patients to receive care from home.

We’re here to address all your health needs

Our hospitals, clinics and emergency departments are open and ready to provide safe care to you and your family. Don’t delay getting care.

baby in hospital

Pandemic or not, it was time to seek care.

If Carly had delayed seeing her doctor, she wouldn’t have known she had preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication that would have imperiled her health – and that of this little guy.  

Watch Video

"UW Medicine is a national leader in the fight against COVID-19. Patients should schedule their care knowing that we are keeping them safe."

— John Lynch, MD, MPH

 

Medical Director, Infection Prevention & Control, Harborview Medical Center

How we’re keeping you safe


All patients and visitors (2 years of age and older), vendors and employees – even if fully vaccinated – are strongly encouraged to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth when entering and while inside of a UW Medicine facility to protect against COVID-19, and other respiratory infections like flu and RSV.


Employees who develop symptoms of a respiratory illness are required to stay home and follow UW Medicine Return to Work policies.


UW Medicine has implemented cleaning and disinfecting procedures to help ensure the health and safety of our patients and their families.


All patients admitted to UW Medicine hospitals are tested for COVID-19, regardless of if they have symptoms associated with a respiratory illness. Testing enables us to safely care for patients with respiratory infections while keeping our staff and other patients safe.


Our visitor policy recognizes that illnesses like COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future.


Creating a safe environment for our patients begins with hand hygiene. Our caregivers will wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer while providing direct patient care.


We continue to learn about COVID-19 as well as other respiratory pathogens and adapt our care practices to reflect the latest recommendations from our UW Medicine experts, who are recognized as national leaders in the fields of infectious disease and virology. We also work very closely to assure your safety with our partners at Public Health – Seattle & King County and Washington State Department of Health.

If you or your family member have an urgent care need or needs a wellness visit, please do not delay your visit. If you have questions or concerns about safety in our hospitals and clinics, please contact your UW Medicine healthcare team