Coffey Health System

Hospital Visitor Guidelines

All hospital patients and visitors must enter through the ER.

Family and friends are important to a patient's recovery. Our hospital visitor guidelines are designed with our patient’s health and safety in mind. Below you'll find our current visitor policy. These guidelines may vary based on a patient's condition and need for rest.  If you have questions, your loved one's care team can provide you with specific information.

**All visitation may be restricted during times of epidemics for the safety of our patients, staff, and community.**

Guidelines for Visitors:

Family and Visitors should:

• Stay at home and not come to the hospital to visit if feeling unwell or have had a fever in the last 24 hours
• ALWAYS wash their hands each time they enter and leave a patient’s room. Hand sanitizer is conveniently placed throughout the facility for use.
• Follow all hospital isolation and/or infection control precautions as instructed by the nursing staff.
• Maintain the privacy of other patients and families by only entering their loved one’s room
• Minimize disturbances and respect other patients’ privacy and the need for quiet by avoiding congregating outside the patient’s room in the hallway. There are several waiting rooms throughout the hospital that can be used.
  • Please keep noise at a minimum.
  • Family and visitors may be asked to leave the premises if they become disruptive or interfere with the general comfort and care of our patients, other visitors, or staff.
• Do not smoke or consume alcohol or illegal drugs while in the hospital or on hospital property.
• Children may not remain overnight in a patient room.
• Visitation by children younger than 12 years of age should coordinate with the nurse assigned to the patient.
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult other than the patient.
  • Children may only visit if they are able to comply with all isolation and/or infection control precautions that may be put in place.
  • During times of epidemics, children may not be allowed into the facility for visitation.

Additional Guidelines for Patients in Specific Care Settings

Patients in the Emergency Department:

• Each ER patient may have ONE (1) visitor accompany them in the ER exam room during their visit. An additional visitor may remain in the waiting area and may switch out with the visitor in the room.
• Additional visitors may be permitted at the discretion of the ER provider and nurse
• Please note: depending upon ER volumes and patient acuity, visitors may be limited at the discretion of the ER provider and nurse.

Patients with a Communicable Disease:

• Visitors will be limited to 2 visitors at a time.
• Visitors with symptoms of communicable disease will be asked not to visit patients at this time to limit further exposure to staff and fellow patients.
• Visitors must go directly to the patient’s room and then leave directly through an exit. They may not congregate in the hallways or waiting areas.
• Patients must follow isolation precautions put in place by the healthcare team.
  • This may include wearing a mask, gown, and/or gloves at all times while visiting patients.
  • Visitors may be asked to wear a mask when entering or leaving the facility.

Obstetrics Patients:

• OB patients may have TWO (2) designated adult visitors remain with them outside of the designated visiting hours
• Patients are limited to 2 visitors at a time of active delivery.
• To allow our patients rest and bonding time with their new infant, we ask to limit visitors to FOUR (4) at a time during visiting hours. Patients may discuss options with their OB nurse for exceptions.
• The healthcare team reserves the right to restrict visitors based on the needs and well-being of the patient and infant.

Pediatric Patients:

• Pediatric patients may have 2 designated visitors remain with them outside of the designated visiting hours.
  

There may be unique and extenuating circumstances that require exceptions to these guidelines. The patient’s nurse and healthcare team, using professional judgment and in collaboration with the patient or the patient’s designated representative, will consider the unique family circumstances and patient needs when applying these guidelines.

“Patient Visitation Rights, Guidelines, and Consent” are presented at the time of admission for review and acknowledgment by the patient. The patient reserves the right to refuse visitation.