Visiting a Patient

Visiting

Visitors: Visitors are people who come to see a patient for social or supportive reasons but are not identified by the patient as care partners. Visitors do not take part in the patient’s care. Their role is to provide companionship and general support. Visitors are welcome during designated visiting hours.

VISITING HOURS:

Visitors are different from care partners and are welcome during designated visiting hours. The number of visitors allowed may vary depending on the unit and the patient’s condition.

CKHA will make reasonable efforts to support care partner presence outside of regular visiting hours while balancing the needs of all patients and the safe operation of hospital services.

General Inpatient Visiting Hours:

• 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

All visitors are asked to check in at the nursing station before entering a patient’s room.

Visiting hours on the inpatient Mental Health Unit:

To support patient participation in treatment programs and therapeutic activities, visiting is limited to designated hours.

• Monday to Friday: 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Visitors to the Inpatient Mental Health Unit must be 14 years of age or older. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Visiting on the Withdrawal Management Unit:

To support recovery and maintain a therapeutic environment, visitors and care partners are not permitted on the Withdrawal Management Unit. Special considerations and reasonable accommodations may be made when appropriate to meet individual patient needs while maintaining a safe, supportive, and therapeutic care environment.

VISITING AFTERHOURS:

Between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., care partners and approved visitors must enter through the Emergency Entrance. Security staff will screen visitors and notify the unit of their arrival. Unit staff will then confirm access.

GATHERING SPACES FOR PATIENTS, CARE PARTNERS AND VISITORS:

CKHA recognizes that patients may sometimes have several care partners and visitors present at the same time. This may occur during a serious change in condition, end-of-life care, or special celebrations.

To help maintain a safe and respectful environment, designated gathering spaces are available throughout the hospital. These spaces help reduce crowding in patient rooms while allowing loved ones to come together in support of the patient.

Reflection Spaces: Reflection Spaces are available to patients, care partners, visitors, staff and physicians for quiet reflection, prayer, spiritual practices, or religious needs. These spaces are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Chatham Site: Located off the main lobby on Level M.
• Wallaceburg Site: Please contact Security or a member of the care team for access.

To reserve a Reflection Space for a specific ceremony or practice, contact the Patient Relations Office at extension 6418 or email patientrelations@ckha.on.ca.

CHATHAM:

B029, Cafeteria: Located on the ground floor and equipped with tables and chairs. Food and beverages are available for purchase.

Room A003, Patient & Family Celebration Room: This private room includes tables, chairs, a refrigerator, and a sink. It may be reserved for gatherings of patients, care partners, and visitors. To reserve the room, please speak with a member of your care team.

Room E245, PCU /ICU Family Lounge: This lounge provides seating for care partners and visitors of patients in the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In-Patient Surgery Lounge: Located near Elevators 6, 7, and 8 on Level 2. The lounge includes large windows, chairs, and end tables and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for care partners and visitors of patients staying on the inpatient surgical unit.

Room E345, Continuing Care Quiet Lounge: This space includes seating and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for care partners and visitors of patients receiving care on the continue care unit. This lounge offers access to an outdoor balcony garden. Staff will be pleased to provide the access code.

Room E339, Palliative Care Lounge: This space includes seating, tables, and a small kitchenette. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for care partners and visitors of patients receiving palliative care. This lounge offers access to an outdoor balcony garden.

Room A402, Medicine Lounge: This lounge includes seating, tables, and washroom facilities. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for care partners and visitors of patients on Medicine A and Medicine B.

Riverside Courtyard: Outdoor visiting is available from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 7 days a week, weather permitting, for eligible patients on inpatient units. The Riverside Courtyard is located outside the South Entrance, next to the Emergency Department. The area includes seating and shaded spaces for comfort. The care team, together with the patient and care partner(s), will determine whether outdoor visits are appropriate and safe.

WALLACEBURG:

Riverside Pavilion: Outdoor visiting is available from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 7 days a week, weather permitting, for eligible patients on the Medicine Unit. The Riverside Pavilion is located on the south side of the hospital along McCleary Line. The area includes seating and shaded spaces for comfort. The care team, together with the patient and care partner(s), will determine whether outdoor visits are appropriate and safe.

CARE PARTNER AND VISITOR RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS:

CKHA respects each patient’s wishes regarding care partner and visitor presence.

Restrictions or limitations may be put in place for the following reasons:

· Patient choice

· Legal requirements

· Safety or behavioural concerns

· Clinical or privacy needs

· Infection prevention and control measures

At times, visitor restrictions may be necessary because of infection prevention and control concerns within the hospital or the community. These temporary measures help reduce the spread of illness and protect vulnerable patients. We understand the importance of staying connected with loved ones and will make every effort to support safe and meaningful visits whenever possible.

Before visiting, please check the CKHA website for the latest updates or speak with the patient’s care team.

There are currently no visitor restrictions.

INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

To help protect patients, care partners, visitors, volunteers, and staff, please do not come to the hospital if you are feeling unwell.

This includes, but is not limited to:

· Fever

· Cough or flu-like symptoms

· Runny nose

· Vomiting or diarrhea

· Rash

· Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

· Known exposure to a communicable disease (such as chickenpox)

Care partners and visitors are expected to follow all infection prevention and control practices, including proper hand hygiene. Alcohol-based hand rub is available throughout the hospital.

Please clean your hands:

· Before entering and when leaving the hospital

· Before and after entering a patient’s room

· Before and after physical contact with a patient

· Before and after eating

· When your hands are visibly soiled

· After using the washroom

· After coughing or sneezing

SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS AND APPEALS:

If standard visiting hours or care partner guidelines do not meet a patient’s needs, CKHA will consider reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.

To request a special accommodation or appeal a restriction, please speak with the Unit Manager or the After-Hours Supervisor.

You may also contact the Patient Relations Office:

· Phone: 519-352-6400 ext. 6814

· Email: patientrelations@ckha.on.ca

Pet Visitors

Visitation with family pets (cats or dogs) is a recognized therapy that enhances and promotes patients’ recovery process. For the safety, health and comfort of all patients, CKHA’s policy requires management approval, advance notice, proof of up-to-date immunization, and pet hygiene guidelines. Please speak with a member of your care team if you would like to arrange a visit with your pet.