The Medical Center supports an open visitation policy. We ask that before visiting with a patient to please stop by the nursing desk prior to let them know you are there to visit.
Visitors are encouraged to discuss any special visiting needs with the unit's head nurse. Whenever possible and medically appropriate, the nurse will coordinate special visiting arrangements to meet patient and family needs.
If you are unable to visit a patient personally, you may call the patient or send a card or gift.
The medical center respects the patient's right to make decisions about his or her care, treatment and services, and to involve the patient's family in care, treatment, and services decisions to the extent permitted by the patient or surrogate decision-maker. 'Family' is defined as a group of two or more persons united by blood, or adoptive, marital, domestic partnership, or other legal ties. The family may also be a person or persons not legally related to the individual (such as significant other, friend or caregiver) whom the individual considers to be family. A family member may be the surrogate decision-maker, as defined in VHA Handbook 1004.2, if authorized to make care decisions for the individual, should he or she lose decision-making capacity or choose to delegate decision making to another. The medical center allows a family member, friend or other individual to be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of stay. The medical center allows for the presence of a support individual of that patient's choice, unless the individual's presence infringes on others' rights or safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The individual may or may not be the patient's surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative. The hospital prohibits discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
Exceptions
For the health and well-being of a patient, the attending physician may limit, restrict, or deny visitation. We apologize for any inconvenience when this occurs and appreciate your understanding that it may be medically necessary.
Patients in the Intensive Care Units, due to the type of the care, are permitted to only have two visitors in the unit at one time.
Food and Beverages
Visitors may not bring food or beverages to patients without authorization from unit physicians or nurses.
Smoking
The Medical Center is smoke-free. Staff, visitors, volunteers and patients may not smoke anywhere indoors or within any exits or entranceways. Smoking is allowed in certain assigned areas, where signs indicate.
- The covered patio area northeast corner of the Emergency Room Entrance, near the trailer.
- The picnic tables by the Garden of Valor in front of the Eye and Audiology Clinic.
- The open air inner courtyard adjacent to Community Living Center Ward 1 South.
Clergy
Members of the clergy are welcome to visit patients who are members of their particular religious group at any time at the discretion of the unit physicians or nurses.
Interpreter Services
We provide interpreter and sign language services to our patients and their family members when discussing their health care with a physician. Contact Equal Employment Office at (909) 825-7084 ext. 1796 for more information.
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