For Visiting Clergy and Pastoral Visitors

As colleagues in ministry, we want to be available to help you. Please feel free to call us any time. We may also call on you for help with specific faith tradition or denominational requests.

Finding Patients and Patient Confidentiality

You may request the room locations of patients who are members of your congregation. You may also use the religious census to help locate patients. (Note that patients may decline to have their name listed in the census.) The religious census is available in Patient and Guest Relations, room 1743, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. It is available at the Information Desk, Monday-Friday, 5:00-9:00 p.m., and weekends, 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. You must have a clergy ID badge to view the census.

The rules regarding confidentiality in the hospital are a result of HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, 2003) legislation and regulations. HIPAA sets legal limits on the information that we can provide to you about patients in order to protect their privacy.

You should continue to maintain your parishioners' privacy and confidentiality. Please get your parishioners’ or members’ permission before sharing information about their hospitalization. Also, ask your members what they want you to share with the congregation when honoring prayer requests. It is best not to share details about diagnosis, treatment plans or prognosis.

Visitation Procedures 

We encourage community clergy and pastoral visitors to visit patients from their own religious congregations. Patients outside of your congregation may be visited at the request of the patient, members of the patient’s immediate family or the patient’s guardian.

Identification Badges

All visiting clergy and pastoral visitors must wear a UVA Health System photo ID badge while making visits. You may register for a badge with Patient and Guest Services Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Badges expire and need to be renewed after two years.

Visiting Hours

Visiting clergy and pastoral visitors are not bound by normal visiting hours. However, you must arrange your visit at the convenience of the patient and our staff.

After-Hours Visits

You must enter through the Emergency Department from 9:00 p.m.- 6:00 a.m. The Emergency Department security officer or Patient and Guest Services supervisor will help you find the patient, provided you have your ID badge. If you forget your badge or don’t have one, we may issue a temporary visitor's badge.

Patient Room Information

You may get room numbers of patients in your congregation at the Information Desk in the main lobby. If a patient can’t be located or information can’t be given out for privacy reasons, please contact us the Chaplains' Office at 434.924.2642 or page the on-call chaplain.

Tracts and Sacred Literature

You may use appropriate religious literature when ministering to your parishioners or others who have requested your services. General distribution of tracts and other religious literature in the hospital is not permitted. Leaving tracts in waiting rooms, lobbies, bathrooms, the hospital chapel and other public areas is not permitted. Devotional and sacred literature is available from the Chaplains' Office.

Parking Information

Visiting clergy and pastoral visitors should use the Lee Street parking garage. You must have your parking ticket validated by the Information Desk every time you visit a patient.