Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Visiting information

May 15, 2023:

With the end of the federal public health emergency, Oregon State Hospital is rolling back its COVID-19 restrictions that were in place for visitation. 
Starting May 15, visitation hours in Salem have been expanded (see visitation schedule for new times). Visitation times in Junction City will be expanded in the future. 
Food and beverages will also be available for purchase from the OSH café and coffee shop to eat and drink during the visit.  Patients may not take these items back to their unit and items not consumed during the visit must be thrown away or taken by the visitor. Please review updates to the approved visitor packet for the full list of food/property changes. 
Other changes that take effect May 15: 
Scheduling
  • Visitors will continue to schedule visits through reception. Approved visitors can schedule their visit by calling (503) 945-2800 in Salem and (541) 465-2554 in Junction City.
  • Patients can visit with up to four adult visitors at a time.
  • Patients can visit with up to two adults and no limit on children during child visits.
  • Visitors can schedule visits for up to one hour at a time per day.
  • There is no limit on the number of times a week a visitor can visit.
  • Walk-in visits will be allowed if there is room in the visitation location.
Video visits: Video visitation will remain an option.

August 26, 2022: We have good news for our OSH family and friends! In-person visitation resumes at Salem and Junction City Thursday, Sept. 1. Visitation registration opens on Monday, Aug. 29. Learn more here!

OSH will continue to offer Microsoft Teams virtual visits for all patients who are interested. To participate in a virtual visit with a patient, visitors must be on the approved visitor list. Visitors may complete a visitor application and go through the approval process before a video visit.

View a tip sheet for Microsoft Teams.

Maintaining connections with family and friends can be an important part of a patient's recovery. One way that friends and family can show their support is through visitation. We want your visitation experience to be a positive one. To help with this, please review the information on this page. You can find additional information in our Friends and Family Guidebook. Please call OSH Family Services if you have any questions or concerns about the visitation process.

Visitor application links

For a copy of a visitor application in Russian, Simplified Chinese,Somali or Vietnamese, please call OSH Reception at 503-945-2800, OSH Family Services at 503-947-8109 or email your request to OSH.FamilyServices@dhsoha.state.or.us.

Apply to visit

Except for legal guardians, friends and family members wanting to visit a patient must first fill out and submit a visitor application*. This includes completing a criminal background check for adults. An application is required for each person wanting to visit. There is a separate application for minors younger than 18 years of age.   

There are four steps in the application process:  

Step 1: The OSH Security Department runs the criminal background check. Security will notify the treatment team of any security concerns. 

Step 2: The patient's treatment team reviews the application and any security concerns. 

Step 3: If approved by the treatment team, the patient will make the final decision to approve or deny the application. 

Step 4: You will be notified by letter, email or phone of the hospital's final decision about your application. If approved, you will receive information about visitation hours and the location of your loved one's unit. 

Please allow five business days from the date your application is received to complete the approval process. Notification may take longer if you request communication through mail. If you have questions about the status of your application, please contact OSH Family Services.

Preparing for your visit

Contraband and prohibited items

In order to provide a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors, certain items are not allowed in the hospital. These items are called either called "prohibited" or “Contraband."

"Contraband" means any item not permitted on OSH grounds, such as:

  • Weapons, controlled substances, marijuana and products containing marijuana, things used to take drugs, illegal substances, lighters or things used to start fires, and explosives;
  • Anything that could harm patients or others;
  • Anything that violates the hospital's infection control requirements, such as pets and non-commercially packaged foods and beverages; or
  • Anything that's illegal

“Prohibited item" means an item that could possibly be used to hurt someone. Prohibited items vary by program and could include things like:

  • Aerosol spray cans
  • Glass
  • Hairdryers
  • Safety pins
  • Electrical cords, including chargers of any kind

If a patient moves to a different part of the hospital, what they can have may change. If you have questions about contraband and prohibited items, please contact the patient's unit or OSH Family Services for more information. View the patient property access list here.

Visitation schedule

Visit this page for visitation schedules by unit.

Child visits

Child visits are scheduled for specific times and locations (see Visitation schedule). Children younger than 18 are allowed to visit when:
  • The child's legal parent or guardian has completed a minor visitor application, which OSH has approved
  • The child is accompanied at all times by an approved adult visitor

Call ahead/special arrangements

To ensure staffing and other availability, please call your loved one's unit or Family Services to arrange the following:

  • Pictures
  • Family dining
  • Visitor use of Cottage
  • Visits to Harbors units
  • Offsite visits

Health and wellness

To help support the health of all OSH patients, staff and visitors, we ask that you refrain from visiting if you are feeling unwell. We encourage all visitors to get an annual flu shot and to use OSH hand hygiene stations in the lobbies before and after visitation. Covering coughs and sneezes is encouraged, as well. During flu season, if OSH requires visitors to wear a face mask, the hospital will provide them. 

OSH may occasionally close a unit when there is a high level of any contagious illness. When this happens, the hospital will post information on this website and at the OSH Reception desk. 

Visitor attire

Please know that some patients may react to revealing clothing or images that promote the use of violence, drugs or alcohol. For their well-being and safety — as well as for the security of staff and other visitors — we ask that you dress for the hospital environment. Clothing should include a dress or a shirt with either a skirt, pants or shorts. Visitors should also wear shoes or sandals. 

The day of your visit

Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before you would like to start your visit. This will allow for time to check in and go through the security-screening process.

Upon your arrival:

  1. Check in with Reception at the main entrance.
  2. Give any packages and gifts to Reception for screening and inventory.
  3. Security staff will ask you to store all personal property — including cell phones, purses and bags — in provided lockers. You may keep cash or a debit card for purchases in the café and market.
  4. In Salem, before entering the visitation area, Security staff will wave a metal detector around your body. Junction City visitors will pass through a metal detector. If the metal detector is activated, staff may ask you to remove other items of clothing (such as a belt) or to empty your pockets.
  5. Staff will walk you to the visitation area.
  6. Brief greetings, farewell embraces and kisses are permitted. Please refrain from other types of physical contact.
Salem Campus Visitation Video

Holiday visits

Oregon State Hospital observes several holidays throughout the year and follows holiday visitation hours (see Visitation schedule)  on those days. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, OSH will observe holiday hours on the Friday before the holiday. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, OSH will follow holiday visitation hours on the Monday after the holiday. Below is a list of the holidays that OSH currently observes.

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Day
  • President's Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Veteran's Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • The day after Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day

Call ahead/special arrangements

If you would like to make special arrangements during a visit, we ask that you do so in advance. OSH staff will make every effort to accommodate your request. See below for information about commonly requested accommodations.

Pictures

You can arrange to have photos taken with your loved one during a visit. Due to privacy and confidentiality concerns, this does require approval prior to your visit. Please contact the nurse manager on the unit or OSH Family Services to make this arrangement.

Family dining

The family dining rooms in Salem and Junction City provide the perfect setting to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, holiday or other memorable occasion. Visit our Family Dining Page for more information.

Due to COVID-19 use of the family dining room in Salem and Junction City has been suspended until further notice.

Visitor Cottage

OSH Salem has a communal Visitor Cottage for family and friends travelling long distances. Visit the Visitor Cottage page for more information.

Due to Covid-19, use of the Visitor Cottage has been suspended until further notice. Please check this website or contact OSH Family Services for more information. 

Due to COVID-19, all off site visits have been suspended until further notice. Please check this website or contact OSH Family Services for updates. Approved visitors can contact their family member's unit to arrange a Microsoft Teams video visit.



Quick Links

Visitation schedule

Child visits

The day of your visit

Contraband/prohibited items

Call ahead/special arrangements 

 

Visitation Videos

Visiting OSH - Salem Campus



 

 Visiting OSH - Junction City Campus