Visitor Guidelines at North Suburban Medical Center
Visitors are considered an integral part of patient care. For the patient’s well-being, we suggest that visitors plan their visits according to the policy and within the general visitation hours. Individual visitation will be at the discretion of the nurse with regard to the patient’s condition and the safety of the department.
General Visitation Guidelines
- General visitation hours are between the hours of 8am and 8pm, with exceptions noted below.
- Only two visitors per patient at one time are preferred. (Exceptions for specialty units noted below.)
- The operator will announce via overhead paging when visiting hours are over.
- Children may not stay overnight unless authorized by the Nursing Supervisor and/or Director of the unit. An adult, other than the patient must be present at all times to supervise visiting children. If appropriate arrangements cannot be made, NSMC staff will contact the County Department of Social Services.
- Visitors under the age of 16 must be accompanied/supervised by an adult at all times.
- Sick or ill visitors should refrain from visiting patients until they are well.
- Visitors are not allowed to sleep or stay overnight in vacant patient rooms. (Exceptions for NICU are noted below.)
- Visitors are asked not to wander the halls engaged in phone conversations out of respect for other patients and families.
Visitation may be restricted or interrupted for the following reasons:
- At the discretion of the caregiver or other hospital staff
- If staff feel the visitors are hindering patient healing in any way (e.g. creating a stressful situation, ill visitors, interrupting patient rest)
- At the request of the patient or legal guardian
- By Physician order
- To provide the patient adequate rest periods
- Patient is undergoing a medical procedure or a nursing intervention
- Restrictions initiated by North Suburban Medical Center’s Administration or Safety Officer due to a disaster, epidemic, or other special situation
- Caregiver/Provider needs to speak confidentially with patient
- Once main entrance is secured after hours
Overnight Visitors - Adult
- At no time will visitors be allowed to rest in the same bed as the patient.
- Visitors of the opposite sex of the patient may not spend the night unless the patient is in a private room (note exception below).
- Same Sex Overnight Visitor – Semi-Private Room
- One visitor who is the same sex as the patient may remain in the patient’s room overnight (not in the vacant bed) if it supports the comfort and well-being of the patient.
- Opposite Sex Overnight Visitor – Semi-Private Room If the second bed in the room is vacant, an opposite-sex visitor may remain in the room (not in the vacant bed) until the bed is required for an incoming patient.
After-hours Visitation
- All outside doors will be locked no later than 9pm with the exception of the Emergency Department entrance.
- All visitors and patients will enter through the Emergency Department after hours.
- After hours visitors are allowed to enter the facility at the discretion of Security and ED staff.
- All doors will be re-opened no earlier than 5:00am.
Pediatric Unit
- Parents may visit at anytime.
- Siblings and other visitors must follow normal visitor hours.
- Emergency Department
- Visitors are limited to two visitors at a time at the bedside.
- Pediatric patients will be allowed to have parents remain with them, unless their presence hinders delivery of care.
- All doors entering the Emergency Department are secured.
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Visitors are limited to two visitors at a time at the bedside. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the patient’s care team.
- Visitation in ICU is limited during shift report and multidisciplinary rounds in order to protect patient privacy.
- No children under 12 years of age are permitted. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the patient’s care team.
- Due to safety concerns, certain items are not allowed in patient rooms: food, snacks, or beverages not intended for the patient, fresh flowers, plants, or balloons.
Labor and Delivery (L&D)
- Visitors may be limited to 4 people at any given time, and at the discretion of nursing staff and providers.
- Only the siblings of the infant will be allowed in the room.
- When not in the LDR, visitors will be asked to return to the waiting room, not to wait in the hallways.
- One overnight adult guest may stay with the mother in the LDR.
- Cell phones are permitted in the LDR’s. During integral times of patient care, cell phones must be silenced.
Newborn Nursery/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Visitation will be restricted during certain periods of the year (e.g. RSV or Flu season).
- For the safety and security of our patients, only the mother and one other adult as designated by the mother of the child may visit the newborn in the nursery. This designated adult must me banded to match the mother and newborn.
- All other visitors (including siblings) will be allowed to visit with the newborn in the mother’s Post Partum room at the mother’s discretion.
- In the NICU, there may be only 2 visitors at the bedside at a time. Due to the increase of susceptibility of infection in babies, siblings under the age of three will only be allowed one visit during the infant’s hospital stay.
- A discharged twin may return to visit in the NICU as long as they have not been exposed to any illness.
- Parents or guardians of NICU patients may stay overnight in an empty patient room or designated sleeping room at the hospital up to three days prior to the baby’s discharge in order to learn to care for the baby. Visitors should be made aware that if the space is needed for patient care, then the room where they are staying will need to be vacated immediately. The hospital must track any visitors staying overnight in a private room or sleeping room.
Postpartum
- Visitors may be limited to 4 people at any given time.
- One overnight adult guest may stay with the mother in the post partum room.
Gifts & Greetings for Patients at North Suburban Medical Center
Patients can receive flowers, cards and small gifts during their hospital stay. These can be order via phone from our gift shops or through the vendor of your choice.
Contacting a Patient at North Suburban Medical Center
By Phone
Please give the operator the patient's name and room number to be connected.
Sending Flowers, Cards or Small Gifts
[Patient Name], [Room #]
C/O North Suburban Medical Center
9191 Grant St
Thornton, CO 80229