Visitation Guidelines

Policy: Clinch Memorial Hospital promotes and supports a family and support persons approach to the care and healing of our patients. The purpose of this policy is to define and set expectations regarding persons visiting hospitalized patients.

Patient Visitation

- Visiting hours at Clinch Memorial Hospital are between 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily. To maintain a restful, healing environment we ask that all family, friends and visitors leave the hospital by 9:00 p.m. Designated essential caregiver(s) are an exception to this rule.
  All visitors should stop at the security desk upon arrival, located in the hospital’s main lobby. Security officers will assist in answering questions and providing direction on visitation guidelines.
  
  Patients may request an “Opt Out” status while in the hospital meaning the patient will not be allowed visitation by anyone other than the attending physician and/or staff handling patient care.
  
  All visitors under the age of 12 are required to have constant supervision by a responsible adult throughout the hospital, including patient rooms.

Visitation Limitations

- Inpatient/Observation Units: Maximum of 3 visitors at bedside at any given time (excluding the essential caregiver). Visitors are allowed to rotate in and out during visiting hours. Designated essential caregivers are not considered visitors and are not counted in the visitation limitation.
  - Pediatric patients may have both parents/guardians serve as designated essential care givers and may remain present at all times. In the case where both parents/guardians are present, only 2 additional visitors will be allowed at bedside at a given time.
  - Children receiving care require a parent or designated adult (18+ with guardian consent) to be present continuously for treatment
  Emergency Department: Maximum of 2 visitors at bedside at a given time, with the exception of a pediatric patient or at the discretion of Administration, manager, or charge nurse/physician.
  - Pediatric patients may have both parents/guardians present at all times, plus one additional visitor with parental approval.
  - Children receiving care require a parent or designated adult (18+ with guardian consent) to be present continuously for treatment
  - The Emergency Department may suspend Emergency Department visitation for patient care or safety reasons. All visitors will be asked to return to the waiting room and allowed to return to patient care areas when the situation is resolved.

Visitor Responsibilities

- Clinch Memorial Hospital is committed to providing a safe, healing environment for patients and their families. To make this possible we need your assistance in the following ways:
- All visitors should practice cleanliness. Hands should be washed and/or use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting a patient’s
- Our patients’ ability to protect themselves from germs and disease is compromised. Exposure to additional illness may complicate the healing process and place them at risk. If a individual is not feeling well or has an illness that could be transferred to our patients he/she should refrain from visiting. If you are not sure, please check with your health care provider.
- While in a hospital, children are safest when accompanied by a trusted adult. We ask that you provide supervision for any visitors under the age of 12 anywhere in the hospital including a patient’s room or unit.
- The patient or the patient’s designated representative, in conjunction with the registered nurse and healthcare team, may limit visitations.
- Patients are allowed visitors as long as there are no restrictions. (example: Opt out, physician request, communicable disease, etc.)
- Patients may request an “Opt Out” while in the hospital meaning the patient will not be allowed visitation by anyone other than the attending physician and/or staff handling patient care.
- Quietness is a priority at Clinch Memorial Hospital. In our ongoing effort to promote a restful, healing environment, the following items are prohibited: alcoholic beverages, disruptive or violent behavior, street drugs and weapons.
- Bathrooms in patient rooms are for patient use only. We ask that visitors please use public rest rooms.
- Clinch Memorial is a tobacco free campus; this includes outside areas and parking lots.
- We understand that hospitals can be noisy. We ask that you partner with us in helping us control noise by: speaking softly, placing your personal electronic devices setting on vibrate or silent, and minimizing the number of visitors within a patient’s room.

Special Considerations

Any deviation from the established visitation guidelines shall be at the discretion of the Charge Nurse and/or physician and will be evaluated based on the individualized patient’s needs and circumstances.

ISOLATION PATIENTS:
- Visitation for isolation patient is permitted, but may require specialized accommodations for the safety of the patient, staff, and visitors.
- If allowed, visitors must:
  - Wear required PPE (mask, etc.) at all times.
  - Receive guidance from staff on donning/doffing PPE.
  - Remain in the patient’s room, only leaving to use the restroom, get food/beverages, or exit the facility.
PALLIATIVE CARE/HOSPICE PATIENTS:
- Clinch Memorial Hospital supports open visitation for our palliative and hospice patients. To maintain a safe environment for everyone, CMH may temporarily limit the number of visitors in a room. All efforts will be made to keep restrictions brief and staff will work closely with families to accommodate all visitors.
- Visitors must remain in patients room or designated family room/waiting room at all times, unless to use public restrooms, obtain food/beverage, or to exit the facility. Our goal is to keep our Immunocompromised patients healthy.
SWING BED PATIENTS:
- Immediate family or other relatives are not subject to visiting hour limitations, unless imposed by the patient or at the discretion of Administration, Manager, or Charge nurse/physician.
PASTORAL CARE/CLERGY VISITATION:
- Pastoral care/Clergy are welcome for visitation upon the patient or family’s request.
- Operating room;
- Isolation rooms or units;
- Behavioral health settings; or

Other typically restricted areas.

VISITATION RESTRICTIONS:

Clinch Memorial Hospital may limit or restrict visitation of any visitor when:

The presence of visitors would be medically or therapeutically contraindicated in the best clinical judgment of healthcare professionals;
The presence of visitors would interfere with the care of or rights of any patient or resident;
Visitors are engaging in disruptive, threatening, or violent behavior toward any staff member, patient or resident, other visitor, or other individual authorized pt be on the property of hospital;
Visitors are non-complaint with hospital policy; or
The patient or resident is under the custody of a law enforcement agency or a correctional institution.

Clinch Memorial Hospital may suspend or terminate the access of any visitor or support person(s)/essential caregivers(s):

Upon request of the adult patient or resident;
For noncompliance with hospital policy;
For failure to comply with reasonable safety protocols or rules of conduct;
If the designated essential caregiver presents a substantial health or safety risk to the patient, other patients or residents, visitors, or staff;
To any patient or resident who is under the custody of a law enforcement agency or a correctional institution; or
Upon court order.

Hospitals are not required to allow visitors, designated support person/essential caregivers to remain present during the administration of Emergency care or to have access to:

Operating room;
Isolation rooms or units;
Behavioral health settings; or
Other typically restricted areas

VISITOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Immediate family or other relatives are not subject to visiting hour limitations, unless imposed by the patient or at the discretion of Administration, Manager, or Charge nurse/physician.

PASTORAL CARE/CLERGY VISITATION:

Pastoral care/Clergy are welcome for visitation upon the patient or family’s request.

VISITATION RESTRICTIONS:

Clinch Memorial Hospital may limit or restrict visitation of any visitor when:

The presence of visitors would be medically or therapeutically contraindicated in the best clinical judgment of healthcare professionals;
The presence of visitors would interfere with the care of or rights of any patient or resident;
Visitors are engaging in disruptive, threatening, or violent behavior toward any staff member, patient or resident, other visitor, or other individual authorized pt be on the property of hospital;
Visitors are non-complaint with hospital policy; or
The patient or resident is under the custody of a law enforcement agency or a correctional institution.

Clinch Memorial Hospital may suspend or terminate the access of any visitor or support person(s)/essential caregivers(s):

Upon request of the adult patient or resident;
For noncompliance with hospital policy;
For failure to comply with reasonable safety protocols or rules of conduct;
If the designated essential caregiver presents a substantial health or safety risk to the patient, other patients or residents, visitors, or staff;
To any patient or resident who is under the custody of a law enforcement agency or a correctional institution; or
Upon court order.

Hospitals are not required to allow visitors, designated support person/essential caregivers to remain present during the administration of Emergency care or to have access to:

Operating room;
Isolation rooms or units;
Behavioral health settings; or
Other typically restricted areas.

VISITOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinch Memorial Hospital is committed to providing a safe, healing environment for patients and their families. To make this possible we need your assistance in the following ways:

All visitors should practice cleanliness. Hands should be washed and/or use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting a patient’s room.
Our patients may have compromised immune systems, making them highly vulnerable to infections. To ensure safety, please do not visit if you are feeling unwell, have symptoms of illness, or have been recently exposed to a contagious disease. If you are unsure, please check with your health care provider before visiting.
For safety, children under 12 need constant supervision by a trusted adult throughout the hospital, including patient rooms. Children under 12 should not visit patients on isolation precautions; those allowed must follow all adult protocol. Children are safest when accompanied by a trusted adult.
Patients are allowed visitors as long as there are no restrictions, (example: Opt out, physician or charge nurse request, communicable disease, safety precautions to protect the patient, other patients, or staff, disruption of other patients care, etc.)
Quietness is a priority at Clinch Memorial Hospital. In our ongoing effort to promote a restful, healing environment, the following items are prohibited: alcoholic beverages, disruptive or violent behavior, street drugs and weapons.
Bathrooms in patient rooms are for patient use only. We ask that visitors please use public restrooms (nursing staff can direct you to the closet public restrooms).
Clinch Memorial Hospital is a tobacco free campus; this includes outside areas and parking lots. Smoking of cigars, cigarettes, pipes, electronic cigarettes, or vapes is prohibitted within the facility, outside areas, and facility parking lot.
We understand that hospitals can be noisy. We ask that you partner with us in helping us control noise by:
- speaking softly
- placing your personal electronic devices settings on vibrate or silent and
- minimizing the number of visitors within a patient’s room
Audio/Video recording is prohibited with the facility or on facility grounds if the patient is participating in outdoor activities. Written consent must be obtained from the Patient, Family, Visitors, and Staff.