Updated April 1, 2020

Patient COVID-19 Guidelines

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Johns Hopkins Medicine is continuously monitoring new information about the new coronavirus and the associated disease (COVID-19), and we are adapting our care practices to reflect the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, and other evidence-based best practices.

To help us identify and treat patients with COVID-19 and avoid spread of the disease, we are asking all patients to follow these guidelines when seeking care at Johns Hopkins Medicine:

• Refer to this website for answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19. This site is updated frequently.
• If you feel ill and it is an emergency, call 911, describe your symptoms, and provide any information you have about recent international travel or contact with someone known to have COVID-19.
• If you feel ill and it is NOT an emergency, call your primary care or specialty care provider, or an urgent care center, and describe your symptoms over the phone before going to any of these locations. Be prepared to answer the following questions:
  • Do you have a fever, a cough or shortness of breath?
  • Have you had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus? (Close contact means having been within 6 feet of that person for an extended time, or being exposed to their cough or sneeze.)
  • Have you been notified by a public health official that you have potentially been exposed to COVID-19?
• For more severe symptoms, such as higher fever and severe shortness of breath, you may be advised to go to a clinic or the emergency department.
• Call your Johns Hopkins specialist’s office the day before your appointment. Be prepared to answer the questions above.
• If possible, please go alone to any appointments. Do not bring children, family members or friends unless you need assistance. Especially, do not bring anyone who has a cough, a fever or shortness of breath.

Are there COVID-19 patients at Johns Hopkins hospitals?

We understand that patients, visitors, staff and even journalists want to know whether patients with COVID-19 are being treated at any of the individual hospitals that are members of the Johns Hopkins Health System. We will share this information at a system level but not for individual hospitals. Safety and privacy are always at the forefront of the care we provide, which means we will continue to protect the privacy of the people we are treating while also ensuring a safe environment for our visitors and employees.

Our clinicians have expertise in infectious diseases and the training and preparedness to safely care for patients with COVID-19. This is our procedure for patients with COVID-19:

• All of our hospitals screen patients for COVID-19 symptoms and risk factors and conduct tests for COVID-19 as necessary.
• Our highly skilled staff members know how to care for a patient with COVID-19, and how to protect themselves and others.
• Any patient with or under investigation for COVID-19 who is admitted to our hospitals is cared for with special isolation precautions by a dedicated team of nurses, doctors and other health care providers.
• We are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of all our patients, visitors and staff.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing Referrals

Johns Hopkins and its member hospitals are not currently accepting walk-ins for coronavirus testing without a referral from a physician.

If your physician refers you for testing, your physician will contact our testing team to initiate your appointment. The testing team will then follow up with you directly to provide directions to the designated testing facility as well as other important instructions, including how to reach the testing site when you arrive at the hospital as well as items you will need to bring.

If you do not have a primary care physician, or if you are a referring physician outside of the Johns Hopkins Health System, you may call 443-997-9537 to find out about coronavirus testing referrals.

What to Expect When You Arrive (Updated 3/23)

Johns Hopkins Medicine has updated some of its procedures to reduce the further spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19, the associated disease, and to help keep our patients and visitors safe. To help you prepare for your appointment, please keep these helpful tips in mind as you plan for your visit.

Call to confirm your appointment.

The day before your appointment, call your Johns Hopkins provider’s office. Be prepared to share any symptoms you may be experiencing, especially those commonly associated with COVID-19. These symptoms include a fever, a cough and shortness of breath.

You can also speak with your provider about alternatives. If you have a MyChart account, you may be able to request a virtual, video visit with your provider instead of going in-person.

PLEASE NOTE: As of March 18, 2020, all elective surgeries will be cancelled. Our providers will call you if your surgery is affected.

Know where you need to go.

To help us control and reduce the spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19, some of our Johns Hopkins Medicine health care facilities have closed certain entrances and parking garages. Review this information and our campus maps to identify which garages and entrances are open and closest to your appointment.

Review our visitor policy.

We are frequently updating our visitor policy in an effort to keep our patients safe. Important elements of the policy include:

• No visitors under age 18 unless they are parents of hospitalized children. This includes infants and siblings.
• No visitors are permitted, except in certain cases. These exceptions include labor and delivery, pediatrics and end-of-life.
• Other family members or friends will not be allowed to enter the facility or to wait in lobbies or common areas such as the cafeteria or food court.

Arrive early and be patient.

You may encounter a line to enter our facilities. This is due to needing to screen all visitors for symptoms of COVID-19. We recommend you give yourself an additional 30 minutes of time to get to your appointment.

We ask all patients staying in the hospital to bring their own digital devices, such as mobile device, tablet or laptop. This will help follow our revised visitor restriction guidelines.

Be prepared to answer questions.

All patients and visitors will be asked to answer the following questions upon their arrival:

• Do you have a fever, a cough or shortness of breath?
• Have you been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19?

Be kind to those around you.

We know these times can be stressful and scary. We encourage you when speaking with our staff and others around you that you try to remain calm and civil. We are working to provide you with great, compassionate care.