All Swedish hospital and clinic locations will require masks in all patient care areas.
Beginning Monday, Dec. 16, all Swedish hospital and clinic locations will require patients, visitors and caregivers to wear face masks in areas where patient care is administered.
With respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19 infection rates on the rise, Swedish, along with other health care facilities throughout Puget Sound, is prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of patients, caregivers and visitors by requiring everyone to wear masks in patient care areas throughout our hospitals and clinics. This includes locations where there are high volumes of high-risk and immunocompromised patients, such as the emergency department and waiting rooms for people receiving cancer treatments, organ donations, etc.
Masking is optional in most indoor locations; however, patients, visitors and caregivers must wear masks within the following areas throughout Swedish clinics and hospitals:
- Hospital patient rooms and hallways.
- Patient exam rooms.
- Registration/front desk and check in locations.
- All Providence Swedish clinic locations, including urgent care.
- Emergency Departments and ED waiting rooms.
- Oncology/cancer waiting rooms.
- Nursing stations.
Swedish symptom self-screening stations will remain in place at patient and visitor entrances. Most stations are equipped with hand sanitizer dispensers and courtesy masks for those who need them.
When transmission levels are high for common respiratory viruses, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends universal masking in health-care settings. At Swedish we adhere to federal and local recommendations to better support staff and patient safety and maintain the overarching goal of providing excellent patient care.
If you have additional questions about masking, please contact the hospital or clinic in which you will be seen or plan to visit. You also can find our visitor policy and additional information for patients and visitors at our website, Swedish.org.
Find a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC)
You can contact Swedish Primary Care to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician or advanced care clinician. If you or a child has symptoms, you can connect virtually with a member of your care team who can review the symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. With Swedish ExpressCare Virtual you can receive treatment in minutes for common conditions such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections, and more. If you don’t have a doctor, use our provider directory to find a specialist or primary care physician near you.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional's instructions.
