Visiting guidelines

Effective date: August 23, 2022

FOR THE SAFETY AND CONSIDERATION OF ALL PATIENTS AND OUR TEAM MEMBERS, VISITORS ARE TO ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES:

1. Visiting HOURS are from 8AM-8PM
   • We reserve the right to temporarily amend visiting hours and guidelines due to community threat or illness
   • Some units may have specific hours for the purpose of providing care, safety and security in that area.
2. Visitors may be subject to screening for symptoms of acute respiratory illness before entering the hospital.
   • Visitors should not come to the hospital if they have a cold, sore throat, fever, cough or other transmissible illness.
   • All visitors are required to self-screen for COVID-19 upon entry to the hospital
3. Visitors are expected to follow verbal and/or posted instructions; for example, “No Visitors” and/or “Isolation” signs.
4. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and stay with the adult when visiting a patient. The Life Center for Women at UF Health Leesburg Hospital has specific rules pertaining to children when visiting their area.
5. Patients under “Isolation/Precautions” may have visitation arranged. The clinician, patient and support person (visitor) will work collaboratively to determine a schedule. Two visitors per day will be permitted. Extension of visitation and special consideration beyond this will be on a case-by-case basis. Nursing will assist with training on required personal protective equipment (PPE) prior to the visitor entering the patient’s room. Visitors must wear PPE during the entire visit and stay in the patient’s room or they may be asked to leave.
   • Visitors of patients under “Isolation/Precautions” will be screened when entering the building and are not to go to other areas of the hospital including cafeteria, gift shop, or other patient rooms. They should limit contact with other in the elevators and lobby areas.
   • Visitors for Isolation patients should be 16 years of age or older to allow proper fit of PPE.
6. Consensual physical contact, such as holding hands or hugging, is allowed between the patient and visitor.
7. If a patient is requesting a visitor/family to stay overnight, efforts will be made to place patient in a private room if available.
8. Ask visitors to leave the patient’s room during physician and/or provider examination unless the patient has requested the visitor to remain.
   • Visitors are to utilize waiting rooms or waiting areas when patients are in the operating room, testing areas, or receiving treatment.
9. Food may not be brought in to patients, unless approved by the doctor or nurse.
10. To ensure a quiet environment, instruct to use cellular phone at a minimum and keep the “ringing” volume set to low or vibrate.
11. Direct visitors to use designated public bathroom outside of the patient’s room.
12. UF Health Central Florida does not allow firearms, alcohol, smoking (including vapor) on the premises. Security can only take possession for safe keeping those items belonging to patients. Contact security if such items are suspected or found in the possession of a visitor.
    • The hospital and its owned property does reserve the right to search bags, boxes and other containers if the staff believes there is a reasonable suspicion of an item that may cause harm to the patient, staff or facilities.

Any issues or concerns with visitors shall be referred to the unit director or administrative supervisor.

We will:

• Inform patients or their support person (i.e. family member, friend or other individual who supports the patient during his or her hospital stay and may exercise the patient’s visitation rights on his or her behalf) of the right to receive or refuse visitors;
• Not restrict or limit visiting privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability;
• Limit number of visitors to two per patient at a time. Length and frequency of visitation depends on condition of patient and the level of treatment required.

Visitors agree to:

• Be respectful to staff, patients, other visitors and facility property
• Adhere to hospital policies and procedures which includes but is not limited to:
  • No running, horse play, yelling, cursing
  • No video or photography without expressed permission
  • No weapons or other contraband (see #12 above)

After hours visitation:

Visitors are to obtain an identification sticker from security after hours (8PM to 5:30AM) located in the emergency room at both UF Health Leesburg Hospital and UF Health The Villages® Hospital. Non-badge wearing visitors after hours are to be redirected to security.

When a visitor presents after hours, security will do the following:

1. Explain to the visitor that normal visiting hours are from 8AM to 8PM.
2. If the visitor cannot come back or has extenuating circumstances, (i.e. patient in critical condition, out of state, etc.) have the visitor complete the Visitation Book.
3. Security will gather identification from the visitor and place a phone call to the nursing unit where the patient is located.
4. Security will advise the floor of a potential after hours visitor and will ask for nurse approval.
5. If the patient’s nurse approves the afterhours visit, security will gather and review proper identification from the visitor and issue a visitor pass. The visitor log book retains a carbon copy of the pass issued. (Visitor passes are good for the day/or the overnight they are issued.)
6. If the patient’s nurse does not approve the afterhours visit, security will advise the visitor accordingly and suggest that they return during normal visiting hours.
7. At times, a visitor may want to question the decision made not to allow them access to the building. Those incidents should be reported to the nursing supervisor.

The nursing supervisor has final authority on visitation if it is observed that it is not contributing to the welfare and in the best interest to the patient.