1.  It is the policy of this Medical Center to permit visitor access to patients consistent with good medical practices.  The Medical Center will allow access to employees and authorized persons who must return after administrative hours. To ensure their safety, these individuals are encouraged to check in and out with the Administrative Officer of the Day (AOD).

2.  Officials hours of operation for the purpose of this policy memorandum shall be defined and established as follows:

    A.  Administrative work week:   8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with the exception of holidays.

    B.  Regular visiting hours:   Daily - 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

    C.  Intensive Care Unit visiting hours:   The following visiting hours have been established and are to be strictly enforced.  6:00-6-30 AM; 12:00-12:30 PM; 4:00-4:30 PM; 6:00-6:30 PM; 8:00-8:30 PM.  Only two visitors, at a time, will be allowed in the
ICU rooms. Children under 13 years of age are not permitted to visit in the ICU.

    D.  Nursing Home Care Unit visiting hours: Regular visiting hours are from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Visitors who have an ill resident may make special arrangements with the Charge Nurse to extend these hours. In these cases, the Charge Nurse will alert the VA Police of the family member's presence in the building. 

3.  Daily at 7:30 PM, an announcement will be made ending visiting hours.  Monday through Friday the switchboard operator will make the announcement.  On weekends, the Administrative Officer of the Day (AOD) on duty will make the announcement.

4.   Daily at 8:00 PM, after allowing time for visitors to clear the buildings, VA police officers will secure all building entrances, with the exception of the Emergency Department entrance.

5.   From 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM daily, all individuals (visitors, employees, and authorized persons) seeking entry to Medical Center buildings will be required to enter via the Emergency Department entrance. 

6.   Visitors may be allowed to call upon patients at other than established visiting hours with the permission of the nurse manager or charge nurse of the unit.  Compassion and good judgment shall be exercised in these instances.

7.   Children under 13 are not permitted on the wards without permission from the patient's physician or nurse manager.  The decision to allow children under the age of 13 to visit should be based on whether the child has a communicable disease which could adversely affect the care of patients, as well as the trauma that could result for the child in visiting the ward area.

8.   Any unauthorized person found in Medical Center buildings after 8:00 PM daily will be questioned by facility police officers and handled in accordance with VA directives.

9.  Physicians and nurse managers or charge nurses shall control visiting regulations on the patient floors.

10.  VA police officers will control visiting regulations in all public areas of the building.

11.  Health Administration Service is responsible for informing all visitors and patients/residents of the visiting hours.

12.  For further information and educational material about this policy, please refer to Health Administration Service.  Contact person with follow up responsibility:         
Chief, Health Administration Service.