Whether your loved one is in the intensive care unit for close observation or because of a critical illness, we recognize that this is a stressful period for you. The unit staff have compiled a guide to help you prepare for your visits into the intensive care areas and how you may assist your loved one during this time. Please take time to read through the Guide, "While You Wait", located in the waiting rooms for ICU.

Visiting Hours

Certain restrictions in visiting the patient in the ICU have been created to promote family support in the caring process; to prevent the spread of disease from visitor to patient or from patient to visitor; and to provide the patient with an atmosphere that promotes rest and healing.

Visitors are restricted to members of the immediate family.

1. Visitors will use the intercom system to check with the nurse and receive approval for visiting.

2. Two people at a time may visit the patient.

3. Visitors must be 12 years of age or older. Special requests for younger visitors will be considered in situations regarding terminal illnesses.

4. Visiting hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The visiting times are arranged this way to allow for shift reports, nursing assessment and patient rest.

5. Infectious diseases can delay a patient's recovery. If you feel you are contagious, please inform the nurse.

6. Telephones are not present in the patient rooms, in order that patient rest not be interrupted. However, on a case-by-case basis, telephones may be made available to the patient. Telephone inquiries regarding patient condition may be directed to the nurse caring for the patient. Nursing staff will not be available during report times. Families are encouraged to use the pay phones in the waiting rooms for personal phone calls.

Personal Belongings

Due to limited space in each patient room and for safe-keeping purposes, personal belongings (clothing and valuables) should be taken home until that time when the patient's activity requires a robe, slippers, or other street clothes.

No flowers are allowed in the patient rooms.

Please check with the nurse regarding gifts and cards.

Family Representative

Good communication between the staff and the family is essential to the well-being of the patient. It is helpful, if each family select one individual, who will act as spokesperson. This person will be the primary contact for physicians and nursing staff. If the patient has a written advance directive, the person identified by that directive to be the patient advocate, would most likely be the best representative. The family representative would share information between the staff and the family. Friends and family not able to visit the patient, will benefit from having one individual to contact.

In times of overwhelming stress, feelings of confusion, helplessness, and fear, disagreements often arise among family members. Because good health care for the patient is the promotion of rest, these problems must be resolved outside of the patient area.

If difficulty resolving certain issues within your family arise, the staff can provide assistance and referrals.