Visitation Policy

Patients have the right to receive visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as long as it is not critically disruptive to their overall healing. For this reason, Garden City Hospital has adopted an “open visiting hours” policy in all areas of the hospital.

The patient has the right to have designated visitors, including but not limited to, a spouse, domestic partner (including same sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend. Patients have the right to withdraw or deny consent to visitation at any time Patients and visitors will be treated equally, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

The patient has a right to have visitors and is able to designate a “support person” of their choosing. The patient has the right to change his or her mind about such designation, in which case he or she should notify the health care provider that he or she no longer wants a particular person to visit.

Visitation Policy Guidelines

1. Between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., visitors may enter the hospital through the main entrance.
2. Visitors should stop at the information desk to locate the patient’s room number.
3. Children who are not self-sufficient and require adult supervision may not be in the hospital unattended. The supervising adult must be someone other than the patient.
4. The number of visitors that can be accommodated is dependent upon the patient’s location, and generally, will range between one and three visitors at a time.
5. Between the hours of 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., when the main entrance is locked, visitors may enter the hospital through the emergency room entrance.
6. Visitors should be directed to stop at the security office to obtain a date sensitive name sticker badge and sign-in on the visitor log.
7. Visitors may be restricted for certain reasons , such as:
          a. visitation may interfere with the care of the patient or care of other hospitalized patients
          b. the hospital is aware that there is an existing court order restricting contact;
          c. visitors engage in disruptive, threatening, or violent behavior of any kind
          d. there may be infection control issues
          e. patient /support person has denied access to identified visitors
8. Under emergency situations such as an external or internal disaster, the hospital reserves the right to limit visitors globally.
9. Visitors should not visit a patient if they themselves are ill.
10. Frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs. Please wash your hands when you arrive and before you leave.
11. Visitors for patients in the Birthing Center should contact the Birthing Center staff for additional visitation guidelines..

While there may be valid reasons for limiting visiting hours during a care intervention, the hospital tries to accommodate the needs of any patient who requests that at least one visitor be allowed to remain in the room to provide support and comfort at such times. The well-being of the patient is the primary consideration in determining visitation.

Gifts

Gifts can do a lot to cheer up a patient.Stuffed animals, books and games are often terrific items to give a patient. Balloons, of course, can also brighten a room. However; for safety reasons, only mylar balloons are permitted in the hospital. All latex balloons are prohibited. Fresh flowers are prohibited in the ICU & CCU. ood is not always an appropriate gift. Please ask the patient’s care provider about dietary restrictions before bringing any food or drink to a patient.

Fragrances

Please be sensitive to wearing or bringing items with strong scents or odors, such as perfume or smoke, into the patient's room as the scent may be bothersome to the patient.

Smoking

Garden City Hospital is a smoke-free campus. Patients and visitors may not smoke in any location inside or outside of the building. Patients may not leave the grounds to smoke.

Pets

Pets may not visit patients or enter the building except under special circumstances and with advance permission from the physician and nurse. Do not bring a pet with hopes of getting permission at that time.

Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

We are very respectful of our patients' privacy, so you may be asked to step out while treatments are being given or while treatment options are discussed with the patient and the healthcare providers.