For Visitors

Parking

Patients and guests seeking the following services/areas should park in Lot F and use the Donehower-Eisenhauer Entrance:

• Cardiovascular Services
• Imaging Services
• Laboratory Services
• Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy

Patients and guests seeking the following services/areas should park in Lots A, B, C, or D and use the new Main Entrance:

• All Patient Care Units
• Infusion Center
• Obstetrics (The Family Place)
• One-Day Surgery
• Pre-Admission Care

Parking Map Parking Map

Evangelical is a smoke and tobacco-free campus. Using any tobacco products, vaping products, or
products that generate smoke inside the Hospital or on the campus is not allowed.

The use of cell phones, cameras, and video equipment is prohibited in patient rooms. Please move to a lobby, waiting area, or the Dining Room to use your cell phone.

General Visitation Guidelines

(updated 10/10/23)

Evangelical Community Hospital has adopted 24/7 visiting hours for all patient units with the exceptions outlined below.

1. All Hospital entrances will be open with the following schedule:
   Main Entrance
   i. Monday – Friday: 5:30 am-8 pm
   ii. Saturday – Sunday: 8 am-8 pm
   Donehower-Eisenhower Entrance
   i. Monday – Friday: 6:30 am-7 pm
   ii. Saturday: 6 am-12 pm
   iii. Sunday: Closed
   
2. During these hours, visitors shall enter through the Main Entrance. Guest Service Representatives will be greeting, providing wayfinding, and as well as transporting patients and visitors, as needed. Volunteers will provide support as available.
3. Outside of the hours, patients and visitors will be directed to come through either the Main Entrance or Emergency Department to enter the Hospital. Security and Telecommunications will provide oversight during these hours.
4. The number of visitors is not limited at the patient’s bedside as long as safe patient care can be provided. Additional visitors may choose to wait in designated waiting areas. Disruptive visitors may be asked to leave. 
5. Well-behaved children are permitted to visit.  
   • The responsibility for children's conduct and safety rests with the parent or responsible adult.
   • Any staff member may instruct the parent or responsible adult to remove the child from a  patient's room if necessary.
   
6. Exceptions:

Obstetrics/The Family Place

• Visitation hours are 8 am-8 pm, with exceptions provided by Labor and Delivery and significant events (i.e., stillbirth, end-of-life).
• One designated support person (i.e., father, significant other, support person) is permitted 24/7.
• While the patient is in Labor and Delivery, up to 2 interchangeable support persons are permitted 24/7. 
  

Emergency Department

• If the patient is not in isolation precautions, up to two interchangeable support persons will be permitted to visit the patient when they are placed in an ED patient room.  
  • Additional support persons must wait in another waiting area, such as the former Degenstein Lobby waiting area.
• If a patient is being evaluated for a condition that may require isolation precautions (i.e., COVID-19, Flu), support persons must remain in another area of the Hospital or outside until the results are complete, even if the patient has been moved to an ED room.  If the patient’s final evaluation determination places the patient in isolation precautions and they are being admitted to the Hospital, the Patients in Isolation section of this policy will apply. Approval from charge nurse and availability of staff members must be met before visiting the patient.
  

Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit

• Visitation hours are Monday to Saturday 3:30 pm-8 pm and Sunday, 8 am-8 pm.

Outpatients

Surgical Services, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Endoscopy Center

• Two support persons, over the age of 16, are permitted to accompany the patient.
  • Special requests should be addressed with the Director/Surgical Care Team of the respective area for consideration of more than 2 support persons.
  • Pediatric visitors are not recommended but allowable to accompany one adult to the surgical waiting room (see #5).
• For patients under the age of 18, two support persons are permitted in the clinical areas.
• Support persons may be asked to wait in other designated areas.
• One support person at a time may accompany a staff member to the clinical care areas to visit with the patient at the bedside.
  • For patients under the age of 18, two support persons are permitted in the clinical areas.
  • Visitation will be limited to 15 minutes at the bedside unless directed otherwise by the Care Team
  • At any point in time support person(s) may be asked to leave the bedside for clinical care needs and or privacy needs of other patients.

Cath Lab

• Two support persons, over the age of 16, at a time are permitted to accompany the patient to the clinical care area.
• Special requests should be addressed with the charge nurse or nurses caring for the patient.

Critical Care Unit

• Newborn visitation to post-partum CCU patients is not permitted. 
  • Special requests will be managed by the medical director and/or nursing director of the CCU.
• Children 8 and older are permitted to visit patients that are not under isolation precautions. 

Imaging, Testing, Physical Therapy, and Physician/Clinic Appointments

• Up to two support persons are permitted to accompany the patient. 
• If an adult patient arrives with children and no alternatives for childcare are available, the patient will be allowed to proceed with the service.  Infants (birth to 12 months) are permitted.  
• A support person may be asked to wait in other designated areas to maintain physical distancing.
  

Overnight Stay Guidelines

1. One visitor, 16 years of age and older, may stay overnight in the patient’s room. The visitor will inform the patient’s caregiver that they will be spending the night.
2. During the overnight hours (8 pm-5:30 am), visitors shall remain in the patient’s room. 
3. Accommodations:
   • The Hospital will provide a pillow, blanket, and bath towel for the overnight guest.
   • The visitor is responsible for bringing toiletries.
   • The visitor may purchase food through Bedside Bistro and payment must be made for these meals ahead of time in the O’Keefe Dining Room or the Hospital Café. 
     

End-of-Life Patient

1. Age and quantity visitor limits are not applicable in these situations. 
2. Excess amounts of visitors will be asked to wait in patient waiting areas as deemed necessary by Nursing.
   

Patients in Isolation

1. Up to two visitors, over the age of 12, at a time in the patient’s room.
2. Visitors will be required to wear appropriate PPE to enter a patient’s room.
3. PPE must be kept on during the entire visit in the patient’s room. 
   

Visitation/Patient Requirements

• Masks are optional (with limited exceptions) and are available at Hospital entrances and locations. 
• Masks are still required for the following situations and should completely cover the nose and mouth: 
  • Patients exhibiting the following symptoms:  fever, cough, sneezing, or other signs and symptoms of illness. 
  • When visiting a patient and a mask is required as part of their isolation precautions.   
• At any time, patient/visitor may request staff to wear a mask.   
• We encourage physical distancing. 
• Visitors must be free of signs or symptoms of a respiratory illness such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or flu-like symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
• Visitors are not permitted if they have an active COVID-19 infection. Visitors who previously had COVID-19 must be at least 10 days from the start of symptoms.
• The Hospital cannot deny access to an attendant, caregiver or family member of a patient who has an intellectual, developmental, or cognitive disability, communication barrier or behavioral concerns.
• Visitors must perform hand hygiene prior to entering and after leaving patient rooms.
• Visitors that do not comply with these rules will lose visiting privileges.
• Clergy, doulas, and nursing home liaisons are considered integral parts of the care team and their visitation is not restricted as long as they adhere to the guidelines listed in this policy.