Visitation Policy
We recognize and appreciate the value of our patient’s emotional and mental health and realize the importance of having friends and loved ones visit while recovering in the hospital.
Visiting Hours
Open visiting hours for the convenience of families and friends as well as for the patient.
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours from 7-9 a.m. and from 7:30-9 p.m. Please limit visitations and interruptions during these hours. With our help, our nurses spend uninterrupted time with their patients to provide them with the best care. A quiet environment is a safe environment in which to give medications and for nurses and patients to communicate with each other.
Visitor Limits
We limit two visitors at a time in patient rooms in the ICU, ED and the Surgery Department to ensure high-quality care and patient safety.
COVID Patients
COVID-positive patients may have visitors. Visitors will be provided and required to wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) while visiting to ensure visitor safety.
Children
Siblings are welcome to visit their newborn brother/sister. If your family member is a patient in ICU, PCU, ED or Surgery, please speak with a nurse about the advisability of bringing children to visit.
Restrictions
There may be times when visitors may be limited or restricted because the visitation may interfere with the care of the patient, the care of other patients, or there are infection control issues such as an increase in COVID positivity, or an outbreak of the flu.
Additional Restrictions
Other potential visiting restrictions could include: the hospital is aware of an existing court order restricting contact or a visitor is engaging in disruptive, threatening or violent behavior of any kind.
Henry Community Health will not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. All visitors will enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences and HCH policy.
It is requested that friends and loved ones not visit if they are feeling ill or experiencing any signs/symptoms of illness.
Health
COVID-19 guidance from the CDC is subject to change based on our community transmission rate as well as changes in regulatory guidelines and requirements. As these changes occur we will communicate them accordingly.
ICU-Additional Guidelines
HCH encourages family/loved ones to be present with patients for emotional support and to be engaged in care as much as possible. Family is welcome 24 hours a day as long as it is helpful to the patient and their well-being.
We limit visitation in the ICU to two visitors at a time. This is the maximum number that our patient rooms can accommodate, as our staff needs to have easy access to the patient, as well as the medical equipment. Under extreme circumstances, per the discretion of the health care team, we can accommodate additional visitors. We encourage the use of our ICU family lounge and waiting room. To ensure the comfort and confidentiality of all patients and families, congregating in the hallways should not take place.
Visitors will not engage in disruptive, abusive, threatening, or unsafe behaviors. The department director or nursing supervisor will address such behavior, and if continued, the visitor could be escorted from the premises immediately.
Safe Patient Handoff/Bedside Report
From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., the nurses pass along important information to the next nurse who will be caring for your loved one. This reporting of information occurs at the bedside of the patient. The nurses will introduce themselves and discuss the plan of care, medications, and any tests or other important information. They will check equipment, IV’s, dressings, safety precautions, etc. We ask that you save your questions until after the report has been completed as interruptions can cause omission of information.
Waiting Rooms
Waiting areas are available in the main lobby, as well as certain other designated places throughout the facility. Please check in with a greeter in the lobby or with a nurse in a hospital department to find the best spot to wait. A pillow and blanket will be provided if you need to wait overnight.
Contacting a Patient
You may call our main number at 765-521-1529 to ask to be connected to a patient’s room. If the patient has asked for that information to remain private, we will not be able to connect you or to deliver flowers or mail.
Information about a patient’s condition is only available to friends and family who have been designated by the patient.
