Visitation Policies

Visitation Policy: TGH Brooksville and Spring Hill

 

Tampa General Hospital Brooksville and Spring Hill recognize the importance of visitation to our patients, their families and friends. This policy reflects the balance required to achieve a positive visitation experience without compromising patient care, security or confidentiality.  TGH Brooksville and Spring Hill staff and employees are responsible for the enforcement of appropriate behavior by visitors. When developing guidelines for visitation the following factors have been considered:

 

  1. The benefit of visitation to the patient.
  2. The impact of visitation on patient care.
  3. The safety and security of patients, visitors, and employees.
  4. Age specifics of visitors / patients.

This policy reflects the balance required to achieve a positive visitation experience without compromising patient care, security or confidentiality. The Administration, house supervision and unit directions will ensure the staff adhere and follow the visitation policy and procedure. Any noncompliance will be reported to the administrator on call.

 

Procedure:

 

All visitors are subject to appropriate behavior. The presence of support individuals will be allowed unless the individual’s presence infringes on others rights, safety or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The visitor may be someone who provides primary physical, psychological, spiritual and/or emotional supports for the patient. The patient has the right to consensual physical contact from their visitor.  The number of visitors may be limited due to dual occupancy rooms. The individual may or may not be the patient’s surrogate decision–maker or legally authorized representative. The patient has the right to designate a primary support person who will have direct access to the patient a minimum of 2 hours a day should any type of restrictions be imposed.

 

  • General Inpatient Unit: 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week
  • Intensive Care
    • Two family members ONLY during the following periods and at the discretion of nursing personnel: 8am – 8pm
  • Ambulatory Care Center:
    • One visitor allowed during normal business hours

No visitor shall be permitted who has a known infectious disease, who recently recovered from such disease, or who recently had contact with such disease (Public Health Code Restriction). All visitors are required to follow isolation precautions as applicable.  Visitors are not compelled to provide proof of vacation or immunization status.

  • Visitors will be free of potentially communicable diseases which may present as
    • Cold/Flu Symptoms
    • Fever
    • Diarrhea/vomiting
    • Shingles
  • Will wash/sanitize hands frequently
  • Utilize PPE (personal protective equipment) as directed by members of the team
  • Will receive education regarding infection prevention training and safety protocols will be coordinated and implemented by the unit treating the patient.

 

After Hour Procedure:

 

  1. Visiting hours are unit specific. Visitation may be limited per patient condition.All visitors are to check in at the public entrance. All after hour visitors are required to go to the ER Registration before going to a patient care floor.
  2. Children twelve years of age and younger must at all times are accompanied by an adult. Under no circumstances may children be left unattended anywhere within Tampa General Hospital Brooksville and Spring Hill. There may be occasions when children under twelve are not allowed to visit a patient.
  3. All visitors will be asked to adhere to the established visitation schedule except in those instances when patient care services staff consider modification of the schedule appropriate. The decision to modify the visitation schedule will be made on a case-by-case basis considering the unique circumstances of the patient.
  4. The Charge Nurse, house supervisor, or Administer on Call can grant permission for visitation outside regular visiting hours. The Charge Nurse will contact Security Services and make arrangements for after-hours visitation.
  5. After hours visitors are required to enter through the Emergency Department. Permission to enter the facility must be granted by the Charge Nurse, house supervisor, or Administrator on call.
  6. All after hours visitors are required check in at the Emergency Registration Desk prior to going to a patient care floor.
  7. Security will escort each visitor who has been approved for after-hours to the appropriate unit.
  8. In certain circumstances, a visitor who has received permission for remaining beyond regular visitation hours may believe it imperative that he/she remain near the patient throughout the night. The Charge Nurse for each unit will designate specific areas in the unit where visitors are to spend the night.
  9. Prior to 9:00 PM, Nursing service will notify and provide Security with the names of all visitors having received permission to remain beyond regular visitation hours.
  10. Security assistance is available should problems arise during the enforcement of this policy.

 

Hospital Visits by Children:

 

Visitors under 12 years of age are generally not allowed on the patient care areas. However, there are situations when such a hospital visit is beneficial to both patient and child. When a request for visitation by a child under age 12 is received, the Charge Nurse should review the information outlined below with the parent or responsible adult. The Charge Nurse will grant permission for this visit based on his/her judgment as to whether this visit will be beneficial to all parties and on the child being in a good state of health. It is not necessary to document this conversation on the medical record. Please review these points with the patient and/or adult responsible for the child:

 

  1. Young children are often exposed to or more easily pass on illness to other children and adults they are around. These are illnesses like colds, flu, chicken pox, and measles. Hospital patients can get sick very easily when they are recovering from illness or surgery. There are also infections in the hospital that are not good for your child to be around.
  2. We do not want hospitalized family members exposed to any illnesses that could lengthen their hospital stay. I'd like to ask you a few questions about your child's state of health:
    1. Has your child shown any signs of being sick during the past week such as runny nose, fever, cold sores, diarrhea, rash, vomiting or cough?

    2. Has your child been exposed to chicken pox, rubella, measles or mumps in the past three weeks?

    3. (If the patient is immunosuppressed), has the child received an oral polio vaccine in the past six weeks?

    3. If the child has any of the above symptoms or exposure to illnesses listed above or if the patient to be visited is immunosuppressed and the child has had an oral polio vaccine in the past six weeks, do not grant permission for a visit at the time. If none of the above is true, grant permission for the visit. Remind the parent this is for one visit and that similar discussions must occur prior to further visits.

     

  3. Remind the parent that hospitals are not childproof places and that the parent is responsible for the child's safety. The medical equipment and furniture look like toys to a child. Young children find it hard to be still and quiet in a place with so much to explore.
  4. Review the best times of day for the child to visit. Ask the parent to bring the child during regular visiting hours for a short period of 20-30 minutes. An adult must stay with the child throughout the visit.

 

Special Needs

 

The hospital will allow family members, friends or other individuals, as identified by the patient, to be present for emotional support during the hospital stay.  Occasionally there will be times when visiting hours may be extended to meet the needs of the patient and family.  Examples of that would be late admissions, surgical cases that may have been delayed and are ending after hours, pediatric admissions that would require the presence of a parent at all times, patients that develop altered level of consciousness secondary to hospitalization such as the elderly patient. Visiting hours can be extended by the Charge Nurse, Nursing Supervisor or the Administrator on call.

 

 

 

Visitation Policy: TGH Crystal River

 

Tampa General Hospital Crystal River recognizes the importance of visitation to our patients, their families and friends. This policy reflects the balance required to achieve a positive visitation experience without compromising patient care, security or confidentiality.  TGH Crystal River staff and employees are responsible for the enforcement of appropriate behavior by visitors. When developing guidelines for visitation the following factors have been considered:

 

  1. The benefit of visitation to the patient.
  2. The impact of visitation on patient care.
  3. The safety and security of patients, visitors, and employees.
  4. Age specifics of visitors / patients.

 

This policy reflects the balance required to achieve a positive visitation experience without compromising patient care, security or confidentiality. The Administration, house supervision and unit directions will ensure the staff adhere and follow the visitation policy and procedure. Any noncompliance will be reported to the administrator on call.

 

Procedure:

 

All visitors are subject to appropriate behavior. The presence of support individuals will be allowed unless the individual’s presence infringes on others rights, safety or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The visitor may be someone who provides primary physical, psychological, spiritual and/or emotional supports for the patient. The patient has the right to consensual physical contact from their visitor.  The number of visitors may be limited due to dual occupancy rooms. The individual may or may not be the patient’s surrogate decision–maker or legally authorized representative. The patient has the right to designate a primary support person who will have direct access to the patient a minimum of 2 hours a day should any type of restrictions be imposed.

 

  • General Inpatient Unit: 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week
  • Intensive Care
    • Two family members ONLY during the following periods and at the discretion of nursing personnel: 8am – 8pm

    •  

  • Ambulatory Care Center:
    • One visitor allowed during normal business hours

 

No visitor shall be permitted who has a known infectious disease, who recently recovered from such disease, or who recently had contact with such disease (Public Health Code Restriction). All visitors are required to follow isolation precautions as applicable.  Visitors are not compelled to provide proof of vacation or immunization status.

  • Visitors will be free of potentially communicable diseases which may present as
    • Cold/Flu Symptoms
    • Fever
    • Diarrhea/vomiting
    • Shingles
  • Will wash/sanitize hands frequently
  • Utilize PPE (personal protective equipment) as directed by members of the team
  • Will receive education regarding infection prevention training and safety protocols will be coordinated and implemented by the unit treating the patient.

 

After Hour Procedure:

 

  1. Visiting hours are unit specific. Visitation may be limited per patient condition.All visitors are to check in at the public entrance. All after hour visitors are required to go to the ER Registration before going to a patient care floor.
  2. Children twelve years of age and younger must at all times are accompanied by an adult. Under no circumstances may children be left unattended anywhere within Tampa General Hospital Crystal River. There may be occasions when children under twelve are not allowed to visit a patient.
  3. All visitors will be asked to adhere to the established visitation schedule except in those instances when patient care services staff consider modification of the schedule appropriate. The decision to modify the visitation schedule will be made on a case-by-case basis considering the unique circumstances of the patient.
  4. The Charge Nurse, house supervisor, or Administer on Call can grant permission for visitation outside regular visiting hours. The Charge Nurse will contact Security Services and make arrangements for after-hours visitation.
  5. After hours visitors are required to enter through the Emergency Department. Permission to enter the facility must be granted by the Charge Nurse, house supervisor, or Administrator on call.
  6. All after hours visitors are required check in at the Emergency Registration Desk prior to going to a patient care floor.
  7. Security will escort each visitor who has been approved for after-hours to the appropriate unit.
  8. In certain circumstances, a visitor who has received permission for remaining beyond regular visitation hours may believe it imperative that he/she remain near the patient throughout the night. The Charge Nurse for each unit will designate specific areas in the unit where visitors are to spend the night.
  9. Prior to 9:00 PM, Nursing service will notify and provide Security with the names of all visitors having received permission to remain beyond regular visitation hours.
  10. Security assistance is available should problems arise during the enforcement of this policy.

 

Hospital Visits by Children:

 

Visitors under 12 years of age are generally not allowed on the patient care areas. However, there are situations when such a hospital visit is beneficial to both patient and child. When a request for visitation by a child under age 12 is received, the Charge Nurse should review the information outlined below with the parent or responsible adult. The Charge Nurse will grant permission for this visit based on his/her judgment as to whether this visit will be beneficial to all parties and on the child being in a good state of health. It is not necessary to document this conversation on the medical record. Please review these points with the patient and/or adult responsible for the child:

 

  1. Young children are often exposed to or more easily pass on illness to other children and adults they are around. These are illnesses like colds, flu, chicken pox, and measles. Hospital patients can get sick very easily when they are recovering from illness or surgery. There are also infections in the hospital that are not good for your child to be around.
  2. We do not want hospitalized family members exposed to any illnesses that could lengthen their hospital stay. I'd like to ask you a few questions about your child's state of health:
    1. Has your child shown any signs of being sick during the past week such as runny nose, fever, cold sores, diarrhea, rash, vomiting or cough?
    2. Has your child been exposed to chicken pox, rubella, measles or mumps in the past three weeks?
    3. (If the patient is immunosuppressed), has the child received an oral polio vaccine in the past six weeks?

    3.  

    If the child has any of the above symptoms or exposure to illnesses listed above or if the patient to be visited is immunosuppressed and the child has had an oral polio vaccine in the past six weeks, do not grant permission for a visit at the time. If none of the above is true, grant permission for the visit. Remind the parent this is for one visit and that similar discussions must occur prior to further visits.

     

  3. Remind the parent that hospitals are not childproof places and that the parent is responsible for the child's safety. The medical equipment and furniture look like toys to a child. Young children find it hard to be still and quiet in a place with so much to explore.
  4. Review the best times of day for the child to visit. Ask the parent to bring the child during regular visiting hours for a short period of 20-30 minutes. An adult must stay with the child throughout the visit.

 

Special Needs

 

The hospital will allow family members, friends or other individuals, as identified by the patient, to be present for emotional support during the hospital stay.  Occasionally there will be times when visiting hours may be extended to meet the needs of the patient and family.  Examples of that would be late admissions, surgical cases that may have been delayed and are ending after hours, pediatric admissions that would require the presence of a parent at all times, patients that develop altered level of consciousness secondary to hospitalization such as the elderly patient. Visiting hours can be extended by the Charge Nurse, Nursing Supervisor or the Administrator on call.