Dear Patients and Families:

William Osler Health Centre recognizes the important role that families and visitors play in meeting patients’ health care needs.

In the spirit of understanding, compassion and respect, we have adjusted our Visitor Guidelines to better meet the needs of patients and their families while in hospital.

The hospital is very mindful of its responsibility to protect the health and safety of patients, staff and visitors. Our patient care teams work with families to ensure each patient is treated as an individual and his/her visitation needs are met.

Please review these guidelines. If you have any questions please speak with your loved one’s caregiver.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
Your Osler Health Care Team

VISITOR GUIDELINES

To better meet the needs of patients and their families while in hospital, beginning Monday April 21, 2008, the following changes will be piloted for a six-month period:

• Visiting hours are from 11 am to 9 pm daily.
• Each patient may have two (2) visitors at a time although this is flexible and discretionary.
• Children are welcome to visit when accompanied by a parent/guardian. Please note: a child is considered one (1) visitor.
• Special visitation needs of each family will be assessed and accommodated as required.

SPECIAL VISITOR GUIDELINES APPLY IN SOME UNITS:
Please see below for clarification of guidelines or exceptions in a particular unit. Staff may use discretion to permit visiting outside of stated hours if the visit meets the needs of the patient, does not disrupt care or treatment and is not disturbing to other patients. Please contact the Patient Care Manager or designate to determine if an exception can be made.

CRITICAL CARE (CCU, ICU):
Special visitation needs of each family will be assessed and accommodated as required. The Nursing Team will assess visitation needs daily and implement changes as required.

• Adult patients are allowed one (1) adult companion to accompany them to their appointment.
• Both parents or guardians are allowed to accompany a child to an appointment.
• Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• Special consideration will be given to high-risk surgical patients.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT:
One (1) adult visitor or companion is allowed at any time for patients in the Emergency Department. Substitution and rotation of visitors will be allowed as appropriate.

Children may have both parents or guardians with them at all times. No visitors or companions are allowed for patients in isolation. For admitted ER patients, visiting hours are from 11 am to 9 pm daily.

MENTAL HEALTH:

Child and Adolescent Mental Health:
Parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, grandparents are welcome to visit:
Tues to Fri, 6 pm to 8 pm, and
Sat, Sun, and Holidays, from 2 pm to 8 pm.
No visitation is allowed on Mondays.

PALLIATIVE CARE:
Patients in the Palliative Care Unit or any patient admitted for palliative care may have two (2) visitors at a time, 24 hours a day. Different situations may require specific consideration.

Obstetrics:
Visitation is based on “Mom’s choice”.
Two (2) visitors identified on admission to stay with patient throughout the labour and delivery process are permitted.
Visitors for ante-partum and post-partum patients are allowed through the day and night. For the patient’s comfort, please limit visitors at the bedside to two (2) at a time.

Paediatrics/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU):
Parents or guardians may stay with the child or newborn 24 hours a day. Up to two (2) additional relatives may visit from 11 am to 9 pm daily provided:

• one (1) parent or guardian is in attendance at all times, and
• total number of visitors does not exceed three (3) at any time (ie. 1 parent/2 relatives or 2 parents/1 relative).

THINGS TO REMEMBER
Wash your hands often!
Regular hand washing helps avoid the spread of infection to patients, you, your family and others. Please wash your hands before and after every patient contact, before and after eating, and after using the washroom.

Information Desk
Information Desks are located at most main entrances. There, hospital volunteers are ready and willing to assist you during your visit or appointment. Please feel free to ask for assistance at any time.

Access to Hospital
Please note that the hospital’s main entrances are locked nightly between 10 pm and 5 am. During these hours, patients and approved visitors must enter at the Emergency Department entrance.

Thank you for your cooperation.

VISITOR RESPONSIBILITIES
To provide a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and their families, we ask that visitors comply with the following:

• Hand washing is very important. Hand wash stations are conveniently located at the main entrances and throughout the hospital.
• Observe visiting hours, as well as any restrictions posted on a patient’s door.
• Children must be supervised at all times.
• Limit the number of visitors at the bedside to two (2) at a time and be aware of the noise level.
• Coordinate your visit with other family members and friends to ensure patients are not overwhelmed with too many visitors.
• Keep your visits short... 15 minutes at a time is enough to tire the patient.
• If nursing or medical care is to be given, visitors may be asked to leave the room.
• Do not sleep in a patient’s room or a waiting area without permission.
• Respect a patient’s right to privacy. Provincial law requires that hospitals comply with strict laws to protect patients’ privacy. Staff can only provide condition updates to a designated family member.
• Please do not visit patients if you have a cough, cold, or fever, or are feeling unwell.
• Latex balloons are not permitted in the hospital as they can cause severe allergies.
• Be respectful and courteous of both patients and Health Centre staff. Also, be respectful of the property of other people and that of the Health Centre.

The following are prohibited at William Osler Health Centre:

• Taking pictures without the consent of the person you are photographing (this includes cell phone images)
• Wearing apparel with obscene language
• Drinking alcoholic beverages
• Displaying disruptive, obscene or violent behaviour; including the use of foul language
• Smoking anywhere on hospital property
• Possession and use of street drugs and/or weapons.

Visitors who do not comply will be asked to leave the Health Centre and may be escorted off hospital grounds by Security.

If you have questions or concerns about any of the above, please discuss them with a member of the health care team.