Visiting Hours & Guidelines

Wilson Memorial Hospital (WMH) believes that a patient’s family members and friends play an important role in providing support during a patient’s illness. The patient may designate any individual to act as his/her support person. A support person may be a family member, friend or other individual who supports the patient during his hospital stay. Rest and patient care are vital for the recovery of the patient; therefore, visitors are asked to adhere to the following guidelines:

1.  Restricting visitation or limiting the number of visitors during a specific period of time may be necessary per a  patient’s wishes, or if the patient’s physician or nurse believes it is warranted by the patient’s condition or if visitation interferes with the care of other patients.
2.  Age requirements for child visitors may be established for certain areas of the hospital.
3.  Patients in isolation may have specific visitation requirements as identified in the infection control policy.
4.  Visitors with fever, cold cores, cough, nasal drainage, colds, diarrhea or any contagious disease should not visit patients.
5.  Children who are obviously ill or who have had recent exposure to communicable diseases should not be brought to the hospital to visit.
6.  Family and visitors are expected to observe good hand washing and personal hygiene at all times.
7.  Family members and visitors are required to wear appropriate clothing.  Shoes and shirts are required at all times.
8.  Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, and/or weapons are not allowed in the hospital.  Anyone suspected of abusing or possessing these items will be asked to leave the hospital. 
9.  Visitors are not permitted to smoke in patient rooms or on hospital property.
10.  The Infection Control Practitioner may restrict visitors and visiting hours in the presence of a community wide infectious disease.  This information will be communicated to families and visitors.
11.  Family and visitors will refrain from disruptive, threatening or violent behavior which undermines a culture of safety or presents a threat to others.
12.  Restrictions imposed by senior leadership or safety officer due to a crisis or special situation may be enforced.
13.  Visitation will be restricted if there are existing court orders to restrict certain visitors from having contact with the patient.
14.  Extended or overnight stays will be addressed under special considerations on an individual patient basis.
15.  It is impossible to anticipate every clinical reason that could warrant visitation restrictions or limitations; thus the hospital reserves the right to determine any other situation where it is necessary to limit visitation.
16.  Failure to follow the hospital’s regulations or to cooperate with hospital staff may result in the visitor or support person being asked to leave the patient area.

1.  Visiting Hours are:
Monday thru Friday 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
2.  Visitation during hours which are not designated as “visiting hours” must be approved by the nursing staff or the psychiatrist.
3.  Visitors of patients on the Behavioral Health Unit will be limited to two at a time due to the physical constraints of the environment of care.
4.  Children under the age of 14 years must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
5.  If patients choose to visit in their rooms, the doors of the room must remain open at all times.
6.  Any possessions brought for the patient must be handed to the staff at the door of the Unit. Items will be given to the patient after visiting hours.
7.  WMH reserves the right to examine any purse, bag, tote bag, etc. brought onto the unit during visiting hours.
8.  All visitors are required to obtain clearance at the nurses' station by signing in and out each time before entering or leaving the unit.