Visiting a patient?

VISITATION

Updated May 2023:

Visitors may visit a patient on the patient floor during established visiting hours. The number of visitors for a patient may be limited based on the condition of the patient. The patient’s physician or the charge nurse may restrict the number of visitors or visiting hours at their discretion. CRMC allows a support person chosen by the patient to be with the patient during the course of stay for emotional support as long as it does not infringe on the other patients’ rights. Visitation will not be determined on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

I.     VISITING HOURS

Visiting hours at Cookeville Regional Medical Center shall be observed as follows:

1. General Units 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. unless otherwise permitted by physician or nursing staff. Visitors age 12 and older are permitted on the general nursing units. Children under the age of 12 may be allowed to visit at the discretion of the unit director, provider or clinical coordinator. One support person of the patient’s choice will be allowed to remain with the patient 24 hours a day. During certain times of the year, visitation may be restricted due to the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as Influenza during the flu season. Children must remain under adult supervision at all times in the public waiting areas of the hospital or in the patient room when visiting.
2. The patient’s physician or the charge nurse may restrict the number of visitors or visiting hours at their discretion. Restricted areas are:
   1. Labor & Delivery/Post-Partum: Visitation is set by the patient and supported by staff. Only one visitor may stay the night with patients; exceptions may be made under certain circumstances at the discretion of the unit director, provider and/or clinical coordinator. Children may not be left unattended with the patient when another care giver is not present. The number of visitors in the room at any given time cannot compromise safety and is limited at the discretion of staff and providers.
   2. Nursery: Visitation is limited to a maximum of 2 people over the age of 2; exceptions may be made at the discretion of the unit director, provider and/or clinical coordinator. Visitors must be free of signs and symptoms of illness (including but not limited to fever or cough). 1 visitor must have a matching band to the baby. Visitors cannot compromise safety or care of the patient and may be limited at the discretion of staff and providers.

2. Emergency room: Visitors in the ER are limited to one (1) unless physician/nursing staff approves variability
3. ICU: One support person of the patient’s choice remain with the patient 24 hours a day to provide emotional and social support. Two additional visitors may visit from the hours of 7:30 am-6:30 pm and 7:30 pm-9:00 pm. Three visitors is the maximum the rooms will accommodate and still allow us to care for patients. Additional visitors may remain in the larger ICU waiting room. Children under the age of 12 are not routinely permitted to visit. All visitors will check in at the nurses’ station and receive a visitor badge that is to be worn during the visit to the patient. Visiting hours may be altered due to extenuating circumstances and/or patient condition.
4. CVICU: One support person of the patient’s choice will be allowed to remain with the patient 24 hours a day to provide emotional and social support. Two additional visitors may visit from the hours of 7:30 am-2:00 pm, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm and 7:30 pm-9:00 pm. Three visitors is the maximum the rooms will accommodate and still allow us to care for patients. Additional visitors may remain in the waiting room. Children under the age of 12 will not routinely be permitted. As circumstances necessitate, visiting hours may be changed to or omitted in order to provide essential care for our patients.

CHILDREN

1. General patient care areas:

Children under the age of 12 may be allowed to visit in patient care areas only after receiving special permission from the charge nurse on the floor to be visited. This precaution is taken in order to reduce the chances of compromising our patients through the spread of infectious diseases. During certain times of the year, visitation may be restricted due to the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as influenza during the flu season. Children must remain under adult supervision at all times in the public waiting areas of the hospital or in the patient room when visiting.

1. Critical/Intensive Care Unit:

The nursing staff is authorized to allow children under the age of 12 to visit under special circumstances. These circumstances depend on the specific situation, the psychosocial needs of the patient and family members, and the type and severity of the illness. No children are allowed on the Critical Care Unit until they are interviewed by the nurse as to recent febrile or rash illness and are shown to be a febrile, without rash, and not recently exposed to an illness.

I.  CONTROLLED AREAS

1. Physicians reserve the right to deny visitation by children and/or adults for the health of their patient(s).
2. Visitors are prohibited from entering patients’ rooms when signs are posted requesting no visitors, as it may be part of the treatment ordered by the patient’s
3. Due to fire and safety regulations, visitors are prohibited from convening in hallways and walkways.
4. Any visitor entering the facility after 9 p.m. must enter through the Emergency Department (“ED”) If the visitor wishes to visit an area other than the ED, they must enter through the east lobby, be signed in by a security officer and be issued a visitor badge with a 24 hour expiration date. This is known as the ePass System.

II. PATIENT VISITATION RIGHTS

1. The patient has the right to choose who may visit
2. The patient has the right to withdraw visitation consent at any
3. The patient’s visitation wishes may be in his or her advance