Procedure

A.      Designating a Support Person for Visitation

1.      Petaluma Valley Hospital complies with health orders regarding visitation during infectious disease outbreaks from the Sonoma County health department, the California Department of Public Health, and any other regulatory agency with the authority to issue a public health order.

2.      Hospital visitation may be limited based on recommendations from CDPH, the CDC, or local public health.

3.      Patients have the right to select a primary support person, defined as a significant individual of the patient's choosing that provides them with the physical, psychological, or emotional support during their hospitalization. This includes inpatient, outpatient, and observation stays.

4.      Patients have the right to determine who may or may not visit them, and this is not restricted to family members. Additionally, patients may withdraw from or deny

visitation by others at any time. When this occurs, it should be communicated with the care team as soon as possible.

B.      Visitation will not be restricted or denied based on race, color, national origin, culture, language, physical or mental disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other criteria disallowed by law.

C.      Visitors are not allowed in restricted areas (such as perioperative and procedural areas) without being accompanied by a hospital caregiver.

D.      Visitor identification may be checked upon entering the facility, and a visitor badge may be issued.

E.       Visitors may be subject to additional security measures such as visual or wand inspection of their person or belongings, or going through a metal detector.

F.       There is no specific limit to the number of visitors who may visit at a time, or the duration of visits. However, in situations where a patient is being cared for in a semi-private room, visitation must not be disruptive or impede a healing environment for the other patient. In these circumstances, visitation may be limited at the discretion of the primary nurse in collaboration with the charge or lead nurse, nursing supervisor, or unit manager. When large numbers of visitors cannot be reasonably accommodated, it is recommended that visitors visit in rotation. Staff will work with patients, family members, and guests to develop a visitation plan.

G.      Children are welcome with adult supervision other than the patient. The patient cannot be responsible for supervising children.

H.      There are no specific age restrictions for child visitors. It is recommended that for younger children, visitation be tailored to their developmental stage, attention span, and behavioral abilities.

I.        All visitors are expected to behave respectfully. Disruptive, aggressive, or violent visitors will be removed from the facility. Additional behaviors that may result in removal include bringing in contraband (drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, non-prescription medications, weapons), failing to address unruly children, and sleeping on premises in unapproved spaces.

J.        Visitors who are ill are asked to refrain from visiting patients. Visitors may be asked to practice respiratory hygiene and wear a mask.

K.      Visitors are expected to stay in the patient's room or wait in designated waiting areas. It is not permissible to congregate in or block hallways.

L.       Quiet hours extend from 2100 to 0700. It is encouraged that visitation occur outside these hours to promote a restful environment. Visitors on premises during quiet hours are required to acknowledge them by remaining quiet so that patients may rest.

M.    Overnight visitation:

1.      Overnight visits by a family member or support person is supported. A family member/support person may stay in the patient's room at night with approval of the shift lead nurse, nursing supervisor, or unit manager with the expectation of remaining quiet without patient or unit disruption.

2.      Infants may stay with their mother so long as there is another adult staying to care for the infant.

3.      Reasonable efforts to accommodate the overnight visitor will be made. However, it is to be understood that patient care is the priority, and overnight visitors are expected to awaken when morning activities commence.

N.     When a patient is incapacitated or otherwise unable to communicate his or her wishes and;

1.      An Advance Health Care Directive is presented designating an individual as the patient's support person, PVH will:

a.      Recognize this designation

b.      Provide a copy of the patient's visitation rights to the support person.

2.      No Advance Health Care Directive is available and an individual asserts that he or she is the patient's support person, PVH will:

a.      Accept this assertion without requiring documentation

b.      Provide a copy of the patient's visitation rights to this individual

c.       Allow the individual to exercise the patient's visitation rights on the patient's behalf.

1.      Se alientan las visitas nocturnas de un miembro de la familia o la persona de apoyo. Un miembro de la familia/una persona de apoyo puede pasar la noche en la habitación del paciente con la aprobación de la enfermera principal del turno, el supervisor de enfermería o el gerente de la unidad y se espera que permanezca en silencio sin perturbar al paciente ni a la unidad.

2.      Los bebés pueden quedarse con su madre siempre y cuando haya otro adulto que se quede para cuidar al bebé.

3.      Se harán esfuerzos razonables para acomodar al visitante que pase la noche. Sin embargo, debe entenderse que nuestra prioridad es el cuidado del paciente, y se espera que los visitantes que se han quedado a pasar la noche se despierten cuando comiencen las actividades por la mañana.

N.     Cuando un paciente está incapacitado o no puede comunicar sus deseos y:

1.      Se presenta una Directiva Anticipada de Atención Médica que designa a una persona como la persona de apoyo del paciente, PVH hará lo siguiente:

a.      Reconocerá esta designación

b.  Proporcionará a la persona de apoyo una copia de los derechos del paciente a recibir visitas.

2.      Si no hay instrucciones anticipadas de atención médica disponibles y una persona afirma que él o ella es la persona de apoyo del paciente, PVH hará lo siguiente:

a.      Aceptará esta afirmación sin exigir ninguna documentación.

b.      Le proporcionará a esta persona una copia de los derechos del paciente a recibir visitas.

c.       Permitirá que la persona ejerza, en nombre del paciente, los derechos que tiene el paciente de recibir visitas.

Reglas para áreas específicas de pacientes hospitalizados y ambulatorios

O.     Departamento de emergencias

1.      Los visitantes son bienvenidos en el Departamento de Emergencias. Los pacientes pueden recibir a visitantes de cualquier edad y a cualquier hora del día.

2.      Es preferible tener un máximo de dos visitantes por paciente a la vez. Se pueden restringir las visitas dependiendo del flujo de pacientes y el estado de salud del paciente. Se harán excepciones caso por caso.

P.      Los pacientes de salud mental y del comportamiento pueden recibir visitas siempre y cuando la visita sea propicia para la salud y el bienestar del paciente. Los visitantes no pueden traer pertenencias personales ni comida a la habitación del paciente. Cualquier artículo aprobado para el paciente será revisado por el personal de Seguridad u otros miembros del personal antes de que se le permita ingresar a la habitación.

Q.     Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos

1.      Los visitantes son bienvenidos en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Los pacientes pueden recibir visitas de cualquier edad en cualquier momento del día.

2.      Es preferible tener un máximo de dos visitantes por paciente a la vez. Se harán excepciones caso por caso, como en los casos en que la muerte sea inminente.

R.      Áreas perioperatorias/Áreas de procedimientos

·         Un visitante a la vez cuando las actividades de cuidados al paciente lo permitan.