Patient Visitation Guidelines
Moses Taylor Hospital welcomes visitors. Our visiting hours and guidelines are designed to balance the patient’s needs for visitors and the health care team’s responsibilities. We thank you for your cooperation with the following visitation guidelines for specific units/areas at Moses Taylor Hospital.
Children:
Under 12 years other than the patient’s own children (by prior arrangement) should not be brought to visit. Children must be under the supervision of an adult at all times during the visit.
May be restricted during community outbreaks of communicable diseases or acute illness (i.e. cough, upper respiratory infection, fever, diarrhea, skin rashes, or other visible signs of illness).
Should not visit if experiencing the above mentioned conditions.
Must stay in the room of the patient they are visiting or in a waiting area accompanied by an adult.
Will be asked to terminate their visit if their behavior is disturbing to other patients, visitors and/or staff and not been corrected by the parent/responsible adult.
Medical-Surgical:
Visiting hours:
semi-private rooms 11am – 8:30pm
private rooms 11am – 9:00pm
No more than 3 visitors at a bedside at any time.
Emergency Department:
Initial assessment of a patient will be performed without visitors present unless a patient is a minor, is unable to give information, or the patient requests that a specific visitor be present.
For adult patients, one visitor at a time may stay with the patient after the initial assessment. For pediatric patients, two visitors may be allowed.
Visitors must remain at the patient’s bedside and avoid standing in doorways, halls, and staff areas.
Family Birthing Suites:
Children (except siblings) under the age of 12 will not be permitted to visit.
Children age 12 and older and siblings will be allowed to visit during designated visiting hours. Children must be supervised at all times by an adult other than the patient.
Labor and Delivery – Three visitors per patient are allowed in the labor and delivery suite at one time. These visitors are chosen by the mother with the nurse or physician’s approval and will be identified at the time of registration in labor and birth.
Mom and Baby Unit – Partners and grandparents may visit the unit at any time. Other visitors may visit on the unit from 11am to 9pm. No more than four visitors, excluding the partner, will be permitted in a patient room at one time.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – Parents and grandparents may visit the unit at any time excluding 6:45am-7:30am and 6:45pm-7:30 pm.
Intensive Care Unit:
Visiting hours in ICU are: 10am-11am, 1pm-2pm, 5pm-6pm, 8pm-9pm.
Visits will be limited to one hour intervals and a limit of 2-3 visitors at any one bedside.
Visitors will be asked to leave ICU during emergencies and may wait in the ICU waiting room.
Visitors will enter ICU through the visitor’s door, use the intercom system and state who they are visiting.
No flowers or food in ICU.
The ICU waiting room is open around the clock for visitors of patients in the unit. There is a sleeping room available for visitors who want to spend the night, to be close to their loved one.
Children 12 and under should remain in the ICU waiting room with proper adult supervision.
Visitors in the waiting room are encouraged to limit the number present to two in order to provide space for other patient’s visitors.
Operating Rooms:
Visitors are not permitted to enter the Operating Rooms. Visitors may wait in designated waiting areas or the patient’s room.
Pediatrics:
Visiting hours are from 11am – 8pm and are limited to 2 per bedside.
Parent/legal guardian is allowed visitation 24 hours a day.
Children under the age of 12 will not be permitted, except in the case of siblings. No siblings under the age of 3 will be permitted to visit. An adult who is not a primary support person for the patient must accompany children under 12 years of age. If the child becomes upset or disruptive, the support person will be asked to leave with the children if necessary. Siblings may visit between the hours of 2pm and 7pm. Parents must screen siblings for signs of communicable disease or recent exposure before they bring the sibling(s) to the hospital.
Post Anesthesia Care Unit:
Parents/guardians of pediatric patients are allowed in PACU at the discretion of the PACU staff.
Visitors are generally not allowed in PACU. Exceptions are at the discretion of the Nurse Manager/Charge Nurse.
Senior Medical Mental Health:
Visiting hours (exceptions based upon individual circumstances) are:
Daily – 7 days a week- 6:30pm-8:00pm.
Additional hours on:
Tuesdays 12:15pm-2:00pm
Thursdays 3:15pm-6:30pm
Weekends and Holidays
1:15pm – 4:30pm
All belongings must be checked at nursing station before being taken to a patient room.
Short Procedure Unit:
Only 2 visitors per patient. Additional visitors will be asked to wait in the
waiting room.
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.
1. Visitors are not restricted or limited based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Visitors are not limited to only immediate family members. Support persons are welcome to visit. A support person is an individual who plays a significant role in a patient’s life.
2. Exceptions to the stated visitation guidelines:
Visitors may be asked to leave the patient’s room and the hospital at the request of the patient or under certain circumstances such as: special care needs, patient’s acuity, visitor’s inappropriate behavior, hospital emergency needs, or to maintain patient’s privacy and confidentiality.
3. Patient Restricted Visitors:
The patient may restrict his/her own visitors at any time. The patient must notify the nursing staff if they wish to restrict visitors.
4. Overnight Visitation is allowed under special circumstances such as when it would enhance the care of the patient. Patients should make requests through the nurse manager/supervisor. Visitors who stay overnight are required to remain on the patient care unit.
5. Sleeping in waiting rooms on the acute care floors is not permitted.
6. Food is prohibited in waiting rooms, other than beverages and light snacks. Visitors are required to check with nursing staff when bringing patients food from home.
7. No coolers or electric cooking devices (coffee makers, slow cookers, etc.) are allowed in waiting rooms.
8. Gifts and flowers are permissible (except for ICU and NICU); however, for safety reasons only mylar balloons are permitted in the hospital. All latex balloons are prohibited.
9. Infection Control Guidelines:
a. All visitors, adults and children, should be free from recent exposure to communicable diseases or acute illness (i.e. cough, upper respiratory infection, fever, diarrhea, skin rashes, or other visible signs of illness).
b. Visitors should not use bathrooms within patient rooms. Public rest rooms are located throughout the facility.
c. Visitors should not sit, recline, or place personal belongs on hospital beds.
10. Night Visitor Identification:
a. For safety and security reasons, any visitor entering after 9pm must enter through the Emergency Department entrance or level one of the parking garage. If entering through
the parking garage, visitors need to speak with the operator for entrance into the building. The visitor will be directed to the
Security desk in the Emergency Department.
b. All after hours visitors will be asked for proof of identification in the form of a picture ID. If the visitor does not have identification, the department they are requesting to visit will be contacted by Security.
c. From the hours of 9pm – 5am, any visitor entering the facility will be issued a visitor identification.
d. If a staff member finds a visitor without a visitor identification after 9pm and before 5am, they should inquire as to their reason for being in the hospital and contact Security.
11. Visitor Conduct
a. Unnecessary noise and disruptive behavior is not tolerated within the hospital or on hospital property. Examples include: loud yelling, obscene language, physical or verbal abuse of patient, visitors or staff, or entering off limit areas. Visitors are expected to act with consideration and respect for patient and hospital property. The Security Patrol Dept. will remove anyone exhibiting disorderly behavior from the hospital
b. Visitors are expected to follow visiting hours on the respective units.
c. Visitors are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages into the hospital. Visibly intoxicated visitors will be escorted by the Security Patrol Officer(s) and removed from the hospital.
d. Smoking is prohibited inside of Moses Taylor as well as all buildings, parking lots, ramps, and hospital owned and leased properties. Smoking is only permitted in the
designated smoking area outside of the 2N door – Medical Office building ramp area. Visitors who are non-compliant with this smoking policy will be referred to Security.
Cell Phone and INTERNET Use
. Patients and visitors are encouraged to refrain from using cell phones in patient care units as they may interfere with sensitive medical equipment. Cell phones and/or other wireless devices should be turned off or set to vibrate mode. Use of cell phones and/or other wireless devices to photograph, record video, and transmit photographs/video via text or other media upload is strictly prohibited.
. Complimentary wireless INTERNET access is available in many locations throughout the Hospital. Contact the switchboard by dialing 0, or ask any clinical staff member for instructions on how to access this service.