The medical center recognizes that visits by family members, close friends, and clergy are important parts of the healing process. Therefore, we encourage and facilitate visitation in a manner that promotes healing, balances the needs of all patients and visitors, and creates a safe and secure environment.
Patients may receive visitors subject to the discretion of the treating physician or charge nurse. Visitation is allowed 24 hours a day in most inpatient areas. Since visiting hours are based on the needs of the patient, there may be times when visitors will be required to discuss special visiting hours with the unit’s nurse manager. Other exceptions are the Intensive Care Unit, located at the Temple facility, Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs at both Waco and Temple facilities, and the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, located at the Waco facility.
After normal administrative hours, visitors should register with Police Service at the Police substation located on the first floor of the Teague Hospital to the right of the main lobby and just before the elevators.
If you are unable to visit a patient personally, you may call the patient.
Food and Beverages
Visitors may not bring food or beverages to patients without authorization from unit physicians or nurses.
Children
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Minimum age for ICU visitation is 14, unless approved by the staff physician and/or nurse manager. This policy also includes the summer youth volunteers who may volunteer at the age of 13 and are restricted from working in the ICU unites.
In the outpatient setting, visitors under the age of 18 will not be allowed in the exam rooms. Children under the age of 12 will not be left unattended in the waiting rooms.
Clergy
Members of the clergy are welcome to visit patients who are members of their particular religious group at any time at the discretion of the unit physicians or nurses.
Exceptions
For the health and well-being of a patient, the attending physician may limit, restrict, or deny visitation. We apologize for any inconvenience when this occurs, and appreciate your understanding that it may be medically necessary.
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
The medical center respects the patient's right to make decisions about his or her care, treatment and services, and to involve the patient's family in care, treatment, and services decisions to the extent permitted by the patient or surrogate decision-maker. ‘Family’ is defined as a group of two or more persons united by blood, or adoptive, marital, domestic partnership, or other legal ties. The family may also be a person or persons not legally related to the individual (such as significant other, friend or caregiver) whom the individual considers to be family. A family member may be the surrogate decision-maker, as defined in VHA Handbook 1004.02, if authorized to make care decisions for the individual, should he or she lose decision-making capacity or choose to delegate decision making to another. The medical center allows a family member, friend or other individual to be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of stay. The medical center allows for the presence of a support individual of the patient's choice, unless the individual's presence infringes on others' rights or safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The individual may or may not be the patient's surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative.
The hospital prohibits discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
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