Visitation Policies

TGH Brooksville and Spring Hill Visitation Policy

Tampa General Hospital Brooksville and Spring Hill recognize the importance of visitation to our patients, their families and friends. Visitors are welcome. 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.

These guidelines reflect 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 guidelines. 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.

Visitation may be limited per patient condition and only as necessary. All visitors are to check in at the main entrance until 8pm. After 8pm all visitors are required to go to the ER Registration before going to a patient care floor.

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
  • Wash/sanitize hands frequently
  • Utilize PPE (personal protective equipment) as directed by members of the team
  • Receive education regarding infection prevention training and safety protocols, coordinated and implemented by the unit treating the patient

Hospital Visits by Children

Please review these points with the patient and/or adult responsible for the child:

  • 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.
  • 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:
    • 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?
    • Has your child been exposed to chicken pox, rubella, measles or mumps in the past three weeks?
    • (If the patient is immunosuppressed), has the child received an oral polio vaccine in the past six weeks?
    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.
  • 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.
  • An adult must stay with the child throughout the visit.