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Home > About RGHS > Rochester General Hospital > Patients And Visitors > Family & Visitors Information and Services > Guidelines for Visitors at RGH

Guidelines for Visitors at RGH

man with two sons
 
Rochester General Hospital embraces the concept of family-centered care by encouraging family support and visitation in an environment which promotes patient comfort, rest and safety.
 
Family and friends are part of the health care team and are an important part of each patient's hospitalization.
 
We have established an open visitation policy providing patients with an atmosphere that is supportive of their needs.
 
Below are guidelines we ask that you review to ensure the best possible care for our patients during their stay.
 
 
 
 General Guidelines
  • The number of visitors is dependent on the needs and comfort of the patient as well as the needs and comfort of the second patient in a semi-private room. The impact of patient's visitors on the overall environment of care will be considered. Please respect the request of unit nursing staff if they should occasionally have to ask you to limit numbers of visitors or times of visitation.
     
  • Children under the age of 14 (in all other units) must be supervised by an adult at all times.
     
  • Visitors with cold symptoms or gastrointestinal flu symptoms are strongly discouraged from visiting. If visiting is deemed absolutely necessary, visitors must strictly adhere to proper hand washing and wear hospital-issued mask and gloves. Unit nursing staff will provide these materials when requested. Visits should be kept short.
     
  • Visitation conflicts or deviation from policy adherence will be referred to the Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, Director or Off-Shift Director. Safety and Security Department officers will be contacted as necessary.
     
  • All doors into the building are secured at 8:00 pm. Visitors entering the hospital after 8:00 pm may park in the ramp garage and enter the hospital from the Emergency Department entrance on the Ground Floor. A public safety officer will issue a visitor pass which must be worn while in the hospital.
     
  • Overnight visitation must occur in a private room setting or the visitor must use the Visitors Waiting Area in order to honor the privacy of the second patient in a semi-private room.


Visiting Hours

  • General medical, surgical, gynecologic, pediatric, stroke, critical care and post partum units honor open visitation hours.
     
  • Emergency Department  encourages the patient to have only two visitors.
     
  • Pediatric Emergency Department: Parents may visit anytime.
     
  • Labor and Delivery: Patients may have a family member or significant other with them anytime. Family is encouraged to be with the patient in the Delivery Room. Doulas are permitted in the Delivery Room Suite anytime.
     
  • Special Care Nursery: Parents and grandparents may visit anytime.

Visiting Hours are limited in the following areas in order to allow the patient to focus on and achieve treatment goals:

  • Inpatient Psychiatry (G-I): Weekdays 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Weekends and Holidays 1:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
     
  • Acute Rehabilitation: Open visiting hours except during rehabilitation treatment sessions and rest periods. Special visiting arrangements may be made at the discretion of the Rehabilitation Team or Nursing Shift Coordinator.

Surgical Host/Hostess

During surgery, family members may wait in the first floor lobby Surgical Lounge, where the surgical host or hostess will keep them informed. The hostess will tell them when you have returned to your room and will direct your surgeon to your family’s location when your surgery is completed.