Visitation
VISTATION POLICY:
The following guidelines shall be followed to assure that patients
and their visitors achieve a positive visitation experience without
compromising patient care, confidentiality, and security.
General Guidelines
Visitation By Children
Emergency Department
Special Care Unit
Operating Room
OB
- In the hospital, general visiting hours are from 9:00 a.m.
to 9:00 p.m.
- Patients are allowed to receive four (4) visitors at a time.
However, exceptions may be made at the discretion of the unit charge
nurse who has the authority to determine the number of visitors and
length of visitation, based on patient needs and other unit
activities.
- Because visiting hours or the number of visitors may be
restricted depending on patient’s condition or type of patient care
unit, visitors are encouraged to inquire about area specific
visitation standards.
- All visitors must be free of any signs and symptoms, such as
coughing, which might indicate a contagious disease.
- All visitors are asked to clean their hands when entering a
patient’s room.
- Visitors should not sit or lie on patient’s beds, drink water
from patient’s pitchers and glasses, or use patient restrooms.
- Visitors will not bring medications of any kind to patient
unless requested to do so by a physician or a nurse. This physician
will notify staff first.
- Some patients are placed on specific diets which may restrict their food/fluid intake. Patients may also be undergoing tests and/or procedures which could be adversely affected by food and/or fluid. Therefore, it is most important that no food or drinks be brought to patient’s room. In certain cases, food and/or drink may be brought into the patient, but only after approval by the Charges Nurse and/or Physician.
- Visitors may be asked to leave by nursing personnel if special
procedures are to be performed or if life-threatening situation
occurs.
- Visitors that obstruct the flow of traffic, cause damage to the
environment of care, or whose behavior is disruptive to other
patients or the performance of nursing duties could be asked to
leave the area.
- Nursing personnel are authorized to control visitation if the
number of visitors become detrimental to the patient or unit.
- Waiting areas are provided for family and friends of the
hospitalized patient.
- In specific cases, based upon the condition of the patient,
arrangements may be made for one person to stay with the patient at
night. Arrangements should be made with the Charge Nurse and/or
Nursing Supervisor
- In case of hospitalized children, hospital policy states that a
responsible adult will remain with any child, age twelve (12) or
under, at all times. A guest tray will be provide free of charge for
this adult.
- After hours, visitors will be permitted based on patient need
and/or request, at the discretion of the unit charge nurse.
- Pastoral/Ministerial visits are not subject to general visiting
rules. These calls are accepted as part of the visits during all
normal waking hours for patients or at anytime when the patient’s
condition is critical and life is at risk.
VISITATION BY CHILDREN
- Visitors under the age of twelve (12) must be cleared for
visitation by the charge nurse and must be accompanied by an adult
other than the patient.
- Children are allowed to visit, according to the following
visitation guidelines, and if they are accompanied by an adult and
or properly supervised.
- Children that are ill should not visit patients.
- Upon receipt of a report of inappropriate behavior, the adult supervising the child, may be directed to escort the child and/or children to the main lobby.
- If inappropriate behavior continues in the main lobby,
the supervising adult may be asked to remove the child/children
from the building.
- Note: Inappropriate behavior may include, but may not be
limited to:
* Screaming
* Yelling
* Running
* Jumping
* Interfering with other visitors
* Abuse of hospital property
* Verbal/physical abuse of staff
* Remaining in any of the hospital units when ill
- Note: Inappropriate behavior may include, but may not be
limited to:
- The child and/or children requested to be removed from a
unit for inappropriate behavior will not be permitted to return to
the patient care areas for the remainder of the calendar day.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
- Patients are allowed to receive two (2) visitors at a
time. However, exceptions may be made at the discretion of the
Emergency Department staff who has the authority to determine the
number of visitors and length of visitation, based on patient needs
and other department activities.
- Waiting areas are provided for visitors in these areas.
SPECIAL CARE UNIT
- Visitation for SCU is from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at staff
discretion.
- If the staff determines it is the best interest of the patient
and staff, staff may allow additional visitation.
- Patients in the Special Care Unit (SCU) and those with
conditions that increase their risk of infection may not receive
live flowers or plants.
- Waiting areas are provided for visitors in these areas.
OPERATING ROOM
- Visitation is generally not allowed in this area.
- Specific cases may be allowed at the discretion of the
Charge Nurse and/or Physician.
- Waiting areas are provided for visitors in these areas.
OB
- Visiting hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a limit of 4 visitors at a time.
- Visiting hours are unlimited twenty-four hours a day for support person (i.e. spouse, father, grandparent, significant other).
- Children under the age of twelve (12) are not allowed general visitation on the Mother/Baby Unit.
- Siblings under twelve (12) years of age are allowed to visit. Sibling visitation must be supervised by a parent or adult at all times.
- Anyone who is ill or has been exposed to a communicable illness should be restricted for visitation.
- Any exceptions to the visiting hours (after hours) will be
approved only by the unit charge nurse.
We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
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