Safety First:
Visitor policy Update April 4, 2022
At Alta Vista Regional Hospital, the health and safety of our patients and our workforce is our top priority. We appreciate your help to assure our hospital is safe for all patients and staff.
We encourage all patient family members to use phone calls, FaceTime, Skype, and other available online platforms to stay in touch with their loved ones in this hospital.
To protect the safety of all in our facility we are not allowing regular visitation.
In some cases, one (1) adult support person will be allowed to visit or accompany a patient.
Visitors will not be allowed for patients with COVID-19 or those patients who are under investigation for the virus, except in specific situations.
Screening areas are set up at the patient entrance for both general and emergency services.
All Support Persons:
- Will always wear a procedure mask while in the facility. Even when in the patient’s room.
- Wear other personal protective gear, as needed.
- Limit the surfaces they touch and perform hand hygiene with either gel or soap and water.
- Follow all requirements and directions provided by staff.
- All support persons will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 to include temperature prior to entry. Visitors that answer yes to any screening question or have a temperature at or above 99.0 may not visit.
- No visitors under the age of 16.
- Approved Support Person must stay in the patient’s room for their visit and not stop in common areas such as waiting rooms, lobbies, cafeteria, or snack areas. Visitors will be allowed to purchase food from the cafeteria, but the cafeteria will deliver trays to the Unit. They may not sit and eat in the cafeteria or common areas. Visitors may not come and go; they must stay in the patient’s room for the visitation period. Visitors may use the facilities public restrooms. Staff will show the visitor to the closest restroom.
Approved Visitors and Visiting Hours Include:
- Medical Decision Maker: One (1) medical decision maker or power of attorney for any patient unable to advocate for themselves, under the age of 18, who needs assistance providing their medical history, understanding medical information, or if nursing staff deems a need for care support. e.g. disabled, developmentally delayed, dementia, high fall risk, Alzheimer’s or otherwise unable to legally consent for care or treatment.
Department Specific Visitation Rules
- Pediatric Population
- One (1) parent or guardian will accompany the patient for any hospital service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Emergency Department
- When a patient is assigned to an emergency department bed, they are allowed 1 visitor.
- Patients treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 are not allowed visitors while at Alta Vista Hospital Emergency Department.
- No visitors in the lobby. If waiting for a patient, must wait in their vehicle or return to hospital when patient is ready for discharge.
- These guidelines are subject to change at anytime by the Emergency Department Leadership.
- Outpatient Surgery or Procedures
- One (1) support person for patients undergoing scheduled outpatient surgeries.
- One (1) support person for outpatient OB prenatal ultrasound.
- Labor & Delivery Services
- Triage, Antepartum and Labor and Delivery patients may have 1 support person per 24-hour period. Support person may leave the facility and return twice within a 24-hour period.
- Post-Partum patients may have one additional visitor between the hours of 2pm-4pm per 24-hour period over the age of 16.
- Inpatient Services
- One visitor per patient per time slot, from the hours of 2-4pm and 6-7pm.
- All visitors must be 16 years of age or older. No Visitors will be allowed to visit COVID-19 positive patients or patients who are waiting to find out if they have COVID-19. We recommend you stay in touch through phone calls or video visits.
- No sleeping in unit waiting areas. Medical support persons will stay in the room with the patient.
- No visitors in the lobby. If waiting for a patient to be discharged, must wait in their vehicle, or return to hospital when patient is ready for discharge.
- Hospice or End-of Life Care
- The Patient may have 2 groups of 2 visitors, one after the other. The team lead, unit director or nursing supervisor will arrange this process.
- All visitors may stay in their cars until it is their turn to visit.
- All visitors must stay in the patient room during the visit.
- All visitors must follow hand washing rules. Please use hand gel or soap and water when entering the hospital, before entering the patient’s room, and upon exiting the patient’s room.
- When possible, unit staff will inform security when visitor group will change out.
** Any deviation for special circumstances needs to be approved by administrator on call. Any individual unwilling to follow the facility policy may not visit.
- Alta Vista Regional Hospital is a tobacco-free campus. No smoking is allowed anywhere on the grounds.
- Don't bring patients food or candies unless your attending doctor gives permission.