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Visiting Guidelines
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Visiting Guidelines
Families and Friends: To ensure your safety, as well as the safety of patients, staff and other guests, we ask that you follow these guidelines:
- Visitors are required to have the patient's four-digit identification number. This number can only be provided to you by the patient.
- Visitors are required to read and sign a confidentiality statement before visiting.
- No more than two visitors are allowed at a time.
- Visitors are expected to be respectful to staff, as well as patients, or they will be asked to leave.
- Former patients (with the exception of family members) may not visit within six months of their last discharge.
- Children under the age of 17 are not permitted to visit.
- Only parents or legal guardians are allowed to visit adolescent patients.
- Overnight visitation is not allowed.
- Visitors cannot bring the following items when visiting and cannot bring to patients:
- Purses, backpacks, briefcases, etc.
- *Cigarettes, lighters, matches or any tobacco products
- Outside food or drink
- Medications or vitamins from home
- Large amounts of cash or valuables
- Electronic equipment, such as cell phones, Blackberries, iPods, cameras (including camera phones), video recorders, CD/DVD players, radios, etc.
- Drugs, alcohol or mood-altering substances of any description
- Firearms or ammunition
- Knives or any item that can be used as a weapon, such as ice picks, screwdrivers, scissors, hair picks, nail files or clippers
- Other sharp items, such as needles, hooks, pins, toothpicks, paper clips, staples, pencils, pens, wire notebooks, etc.
- Razor blades, straight razors, double-edge and safety razors
- Glass items, except for eyeglasses
- Metal cans, aerosol cans and breakable hard plastic items
- Rope, chains, corded items, jewelry (except for wedding band or watch), belts, shoestrings or drawstrings
- Curling irons, blow dryers and other items with cords
- Personal linens such as pillows, blankets, quilts and stuffed animals
- Lotion or polish remover
- Liquid paper
- Alcohol-based products, such as certain mouthwashes or disinfectants
- Shorts, tank tops or strapless shirts, or shirts or pants that expose stomach or underclothing or any clothing that advertises alcohol, drugs or gambling
- All items brought by visitors for patients will be inspected for patient and staff safety.
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Visitors with colds, sore throats and other viruses or infections are discouraged from visiting. Since patients are susceptible to contagious illnesses, we encourage ill family or friends to call or write instead of visiting.
Participation of family members or legal guardians throughout treatment is essential.
Family members and legal guardians are encouraged to be involved in the assessment, admission and discharge planning process. In addition, meetings are scheduled to facilitate ongoing communication in order to exchange information and evaluate needs. These meetings also provide an opportunity to clearly identify expectations.
Our social workers and counselors serve as the liaison between family and the treatment team, which consists of a psychiatrist; medical physician; social worker and/or counselor; and activity therapy, nursing and mental health technicians.
Patients are encouraged to choose one family member as the primary family contact. If the patient is unable to appoint a contact, the responsible party or power of attorney serves as or appoints the contact. For communication to be clear and comprehensive, we ask that the primary family contact be prepared to communicate with other family members as appropriate, while respecting patient privacy. Should a family member have questions regarding a patient's care or wish to speak to a member of the treatment team, please notify the counselor or nurse on the appropriate unit.
*Smoking or the use of any tobacco product is not permitted anywhere on Our Lady of the Lake's campus, including parking lots, garages, outdoor common areas, walkways and the Tau Center. This applies to everyone including staff, physicians, patients and visitors.
Additional Resources:
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