What to Expect When You Visit UPMC for Essential Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Disclaimer: At UPMC HealthBeat, we strive to provide the most up-to-date facts in our stories when we publish them. We also make updates to our content as information changes. However, education about COVID-19 can shift quickly based on new data, emerging variants, or other factors. The information in this story was accurate as of its publish date. We also encourage you to visit other reliable websites for updated information, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and your state and local governments. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues worldwide, UPMC remains committed to both caring for our patients and communities and preventing the spread of this virus. It’s safe to make a doctor’s appointment and undergo a procedure.

Our top priority is safety. To meet that goal, we have changed some of the normal operating procedures in our hospitals, clinics, and outpatient offices.

“We are preparing our hospitals and teams to return to providing expert care to the vast majority of the people we serve who do not have the disease, while tending to those with COVID-19 simultaneously,” says Rachel Sackrowitz, MD, chief medical officer of the UPMC Intensive Care Unit Service Center. “We are fully committed to keeping our patients and health care workers safe as we resume the full range of our world-class health services.”

Never Miss a Beat!

Get Healthy Tips Sent to Your Phone!

Message and data rates may apply. Text the word STOP to opt out and HELP for help. Click here to view the privacy and terms.

What Should I Do Before My UPMC Visit?

If you are unsure of what is needed ahead of your appointment, call your doctor’s office for more information, including guidance on when to arrive and what to do when you get there.

Please wear a facemask to your visit. We require adults and children older than 2 to wear facemasks in UPMC facilities.

What Should I Do When I Arrive for My UPMC Visit?

For safety reasons, we may ask that patients not wait for their appointment in the waiting room.

When you get to the hospital or facility for your visit, you may be required to stay in your vehicle until your appointment begins. Call your doctor’s office to let them know you’re there and wait for further instructions. Those that don’t have access to a phone can come into the office to sign in.

How Will UPMC Keep Me Safe?

UPMC is dedicated to keeping patients, staff, and community members safe. Here are some of the ways we’re working to keep you safe.

  • We keep our hospitals and facilities as clean as possible and use hospital-grade disinfectants. We pay special attention to high-touch areas, such as countertops and doorknobs.
  • We require all adults and children over 2 years old to wear facemasks at all times inside all UPMC facilities.
  • We screen patients and staff for COVID-19 exposure and symptoms.
  • Our medical staff is trained to provide the highest levels of care. Each hospital has a skilled and experienced Infection Prevention Team.
  • For safety reasons, we are restricting visitors and volunteers in our hospitals and facilities to limit the risk of infection.

If you have any further questions about what to expect on your visit, call your doctor.

About UPMC

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider and insurer. We operate 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers, with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, and internationally. We employ 4,900 physicians, and we are leaders in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and treatment breakthroughs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside as one of the nation’s best hospitals in many specialties and ranks UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. We are dedicated to providing Life Changing Medicine to our communities.