26B-2-242. Visitation policy.
(1) As used in this section: "Patient" means an individual who receives care or services from a health care facility. "Personal representative" means an individual described in 45 C.F.R. Sec. 164.502(g). "Primary visitor" means an individual who a patient designates under Subsection. (3)
(2) A health care facility shall establish visitation policies and procedures that shall, at a minimum, include provisions regarding: infection control; infection control education for visitors; personal protective equipment requirements when necessary for infection control; for a visitor who is not a primary visitor: maximum duration of visits; maximum number of visitors a patient may have each day; maximum number of visitors a patient may have at one time; and the individual or position at the health care facility that is responsible for ensuring that staff adhere to the policies and procedures.
(3) A patient or the patient's personal representative may designate one individual as a primary visitor. Except as provided in Subsection, a health care facility may not limit the duration or frequency of a primary visitor's visits to the designating patient. (5)
(4) A health care facility may not: require a visitor or primary visitor to comply with infection control measures that are more restrictive than the infection control measures the health care facility requires of the health care facility's staff; require a visitor or primary visitor to show proof of vaccination or immunization status; except as provided in Subsection, prohibit physical contact between the visitor and the patient the visitor is visiting; or (5) deny a visitor or primary visitor access to the patient unless visitation is denied, modified, or limited as provided in Subsection. (5)
(5) A health care facility may: exclude certain areas of the health care facility from visitor and primary visitor access; require a visitor or a primary visitor to agree in writing to follow the health care facility's visitation policies and procedures before allowing access to the patient; suspend or refuse in-person visitation for a visitor or a primary visitor if the visitor or primary visitor violates the health care facility's visitation policies and procedures; remove a visitor or primary visitor or deny visitation, if the patient is undergoing a procedure or receiving treatment that would be impeded by visitation; deny visitation for a visitor or primary visitor if the patient or personal representative objects to the visit; or prohibit physical contact or visitation if: the visit or physical contact is prohibited by law; the patient is in the custody of the state; or the health care facility determines the visit or physical contact: creates a physical safety risk to the patient, the visitor or primary visitor, or the health care facility's staff; is counter therapeutic to the patient's well-being; or is disruptive to the patient's care or treatment.
(6) A health care facility shall provide the department with a copy of the health care facility's visitation policies and procedures: upon the department's request; and when the health care facility: obtains a license to operate from the department; renews the license from the department; and changes ownership.
(7) A health care facility shall make visitation policies and procedures created in accordance with this section available on the health care facility's website.
(8) The department shall provide: a description of the requirements of this section on the department's website; and a method for the public to report a violation of this section.
(9) This section does not apply to the Utah State Hospital.