Although it is comforting for patients to have visitors, too many may interfere with the care and rest a patient needs for recovery. There should be no more than two visitors in a patient's room at one time, and nurses may need to limit visitorsfurther.
General patient visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except for the nursing units listed below.
- Intensive Care Unit: Two visitors per bedside, other than 6:30 to 8 a.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Labor and Delivery: Two visitors at a time in the suites
- Pediatrics: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In most cases, visitors must be at least 12 years of age. Due to risk infection, children under age 12 are not allowed to visit the Labor and Delivery Suites, Intensive Care Unit and Critical Care Units.
Getting and Giving Information
Select a family spokesperson who can speak for all of you and share new information with the entire family. To protect patient privacy, we ask that the spokesperson select a password so that patient information may be obtained by telephone, if necessary.
Be sure to share the wishes of the patient regarding surgery, life support, dialysis and other difficult decisions with the physician and unit health care providers. Make sure the patient's caregivers know how to contact you in case of emergency or if you are not at the hospital.
Ask the nurses what you can do to help. In critical care, questions often arise that doctors and nurses simply cannot answer. The condition of a patient in critical care is often unpredictable, and physicians may only be able to give you their best assessment of the situation. We know this is frustrating and difficult. However, it is important to keep this in mind as you speak with your doctors and nurses.
Family Care Areas
In an effort to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible, we have designed family care areas complete with comfortable seating, TVs and computer kiosks with internet access. During certain hours, volunteers are on duty in family care areas to provide hospital information and to help keep family members informed.
A few guidelines apply:
- The number of visitors in the family care areas should be kept to a small number.
- Staying overnight in the family care areas is discouraged. We ask that family members have hotel accomodations.
- Other than drinks and snacks, we ask that you do not bring any other food or equipment (coffee pots, crock pots, hot plates) into the family care areas.
- Cell phones may be used in waiting rooms.
- Adults must supervise children at all times.
- Valuables must not be left in waiting rooms.
- Please respect the needs of others for a calm, quiet and clean atmosphere.
Social Services
Our social workers and case managers are available to assist you with a chaplain, a list of support groups or contacts at rehabilitation facilities. Social workers and case managers are also available to discuss advance directives or organ donation with you or your loved one. Please talk to the critical care nurse about your needs.
Food, Plants and Flowers
Please check with the patient's nurse before bringing gifts of food or drink, as some patients are on restricted diets. Due to infection control considerations, plants and flowers are not allowed in Critical Care areas. |
