Visitor Information

Washington Health System (WHS) embraces a philosophy of open and flexible patient visitation that welcomes and encourages family/significant others' involvement in patient care. Visitors have the responsibility to follow all hospital policies and are expected at all times to exhibit the following behavior:

• Show respect and consideration of the hospital’s staff, property, privacy and visitors.
• Act in a non‐disruptive manner and respect the need for noise control in order to create and maintain an atmosphere that encourages patient rest and recovery.
• Respect that any health care team member may need to limit the number of visitors and/or remove certain visitors in order to control noise and/or promote the health and safety of the patient or unit.
• However, WHS may restrict visitors for reasons such as, but not limited to, legal restrictions (e.g., restraining order or if you’re in legal custody) and behavior that is disruptive to the therapeutic environment.
  

Visitors Standards of Behavior

Additionally, all visitors shall comply with the following:

• Visitors, family or friends will not be allowed to observe or accompany patients in a restricted surgical or procedure area, unless express permission is granted. Visitors will be directed to designated waiting areas: the lobby, cafeteria or waiting rooms.
• Visitors may not stay or congregate in the hallways or patient units.
• Visitors who are ill (have an infection, fever, cold, COVID-19 symptoms, draining wounds or vomiting) or generally do not feel well should refrain from visiting and will be asked to leave if staff determine the illness may be contagious.
• Visitors must limit the number of personal belongings brought in the hospital to two small items unless given permission by patient care staff. No outside electronics will be permitted in the hospital except for phones, laptops and tablets. Hospital personnel have the right to ask that personal belongings be removed if they are causing clutter, a nuisance or deemed to make the environment unsafe. The hospital is not responsible for personal items, which must remain under the control of the person responsible.
• Children under age 12 may visit and must be supervised by an adult visitor at all times.
• Visitors assisted by service animals are permitted to enter our facility and visit patients with the assistance of their service animal. For the purpose of patient safety, certain areas are designated as restricted, and service animals will not be permitted. Visitors are encouraged to ask about bringing service animals before they visit, and/or if there is concern about access to these areas. No other animals are allowed.
• In order to preserve the privacy of our patients, visitors and staff, video, photographs and audiotaping by visitors are prohibited in the hospital.
• If WHS Standards of Behavior are not followed, or if the staff feels threatened at any time, WHS Police will be called. The visitor may be asked to leave the premises and not return at hospital leadership or WHS Police discretion. Charges will be filed if any employee is assaulted. Visitors have the responsibility to follow all hospital policies and are expected at all times to exhibit the following behavior. Show respect and consideration of WHS staff, property, privacy and visitors. Act in a nondisruptive manner and respect the need for noise control to encourage patient rest and recovery; and refrain from using foul language, aggression, threats, intimidation, loud voices, intoxication, and physically or verbally abusive behavior toward any WHS employee, patient or visitor.
  

Visiting After Hours

The unit manager must grant special permission for visitation after hours. For safety reasons, the main entrance at Washington Hospital is locked between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. At Washington, it is recommended that visitors arriving between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. park in the Emergency Department parking lot in back of the hospital for easy access to the Emergency Department entrance.

Patient Leaving the Unit

For your safety and to avoid any delays in treatment, patients are to remain on their assigned units unless specifically ordered otherwise by their physician.

All inpatients are not allowed to leave the WHS campuses with any hospital and/or medical equipment without express permission from their doctor and hospital staff.

WHS is tobacco free, and use of all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, is not permitted on any of the properties, including parking lots and neighboring sidewalks.

Per WHS policy, failure to comply with  the provisions of this section may result in the patient being discharged against medical advice.