PATIENTS & VISITORS

Carondelet Visitors’ Policy
Carondelet Health Network (CHN) encourages and supports active involvement of patient’s families and significant others in the plan of care. Visiting guidelines are designed to promote a therapeutic and healing environment for all patients and to provide for the safety of our patients, their families and our employees. Our hospital staff will support our visiting guidelines. Any exceptions may be made based on patients’ individual needs and will be need approval by the unit charge nurse.

General Guidelines

• General visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Visitors should be healthy or may be asked to leave.
• Up to 2 visitors may visit a patient at any one time.
• We ask that visitors not visiting in a patient room remain in the common areas of the hospital and children visiting are to remain under the supervision of an adult visitor at all times.
• Members of the clergy may visit at any time. Clergy are requested to check with the nurse prior to visiting the patient.
• Family members are discouraged from staying overnight in the hospital. Any exceptions need to be approved. A log of visitors will be kept on each unit and visitors staying in the facility after visiting hours will be issued visitor identification badges. This is for the safety of our patients, staff and visitors.
• Carondelet does not allow alcohol or weapons on the premises.
• Smoking is allowed only in designated areas.

Special Considerations

Specific units in the hospital have special considerations for visitors based on the care and service provided to specific patient populations.

Emergency Department

• Each patient is permitted to have one visitor. If the patient is under the age of 18 years old they may have one or both parents with them.
• A visitor identification badge will be issued and must be displayed at all times. The pass must be visible to gain entrance into the Emergency Department.
• Children under the age of 13 years old are not permitted as visitors in the Emergency Department.

Hospice

• Visiting hours are open. Doors are secured at 10pm.
• Visitors may spend the night but cots are not always available. No meals or showers are available for visitors. Visitors must use the public rest rooms.
• The patient’s nurse should be consulted prior to bringing children under the age of 13 years old in to visit the patient.

Pediatrics

• Parents are encouraged to stay with the patient at all times.

Women & Infant Services Visiting Guidelines
Labor and Delivery

• Brothers and sisters of the new baby are the only children allowed on the maternity unit.
• Open visiting hours are during labor only and limited to 3 people at the bedside at a time.
• After hours visiting during labor needs to be limited to assure quiet for other sleeping patients.
• Visitation after delivery is limited to one person only after 8 p.m. Only one adult may stay overnight with the mother. Brothers and sisters must leave by 8 p.m.
• Visitors will be restricted when certain procedures are being performed.

Women’s Health Unit

• Brothers and sisters of the new baby are the only children allowed in the Couplet Care area.

Visitation after 8 p.m. in the Women’s Health Unit

• For the Couplet Care area, overnight visiting is limited to one person of the patient’s choosing.
• It is requested this individual stay in the patient’s room and not walk about the facility.
• Brothers and sisters visiting their new baby must leave by 8 p.m.
• For Antenatal, GYN and Med/Surg patients in this unit, one adult may stay overnight with any patient in the Women’s Health Unit at the discretion of the Charge Nurse.

Neonatal ICU

• Maximum of two people are allowed at the baby’s bedside.
• Parents are encouraged to stay with their baby as much as possible. Parents may be asked to step out of the unit from 7 to 7:30 a.m. & p.m. during shift change and during some procedures.
• No visitors are allowed at the bedside without a “banded” parent present.
• ALL visitors in the NICU should be healthy and free from colds, cold sores, and flu-like symptoms.
• There are two Parent Rooms at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Please check with the Charge Nurse for information about using these rooms.
• Visitors spending the night with a patient must wear a visable department visitor’s badge.

Critical Care

The Critical Care staff knows family visits are important to a patient’s recovery, and that families will need information, reassurance and support.

Patients are permitted visitors every 2 hours on the even half-hour (6:30, 8:30, 10:30…) around the clock. Visitors may stay with the patient up to 45 minutes each visit.

Families may want to be in the patient’s room more than visiting hours permit. The Critical Care staff may allow an unscheduled or extended visit. However, there may be times when it is best for families and the patient to be away from the patient’s room. If patients or families have a special request regarding visitation, please ask the Critical Care RN.

Critical Care Unit Guidelines:

• Visitors must remain in the patient’s room during visitation.
• Visitors are not allowed to sleep overnight in the patient’s room.
• Consult the patient’s nurse prior to having children under the age of 13 visit.
• No live flowers or plants are allowed in the Critical Care Unit.

Carondelet Health Network Visitors Criteria for After-Hours Stay

• Carondelet Health Network has developed an after-hours (8 p.m. – 10 a.m.) policy, in the best interest of safety, for all of our patients, staff and visitors.
• Family members are not permitted to stay overnight. However, exceptions may be made by the unit Charge Nurse.
• Visitors must sign a unit log and wear a visitor’s badge indicating they have read and will follow our after-hours guidelines.
• A visitor’s badge gives permission to stay after 8 p.m. in the immediate waiting area and is good for one night only. Public restrooms are available, and we ask visitors not to wander throughout the halls and building. Carondelet hospitals are non-smoking facilities. Smoking areas are not available at night. Once a visitor leaves the building, they cannot be readmitted.
  
   

back