Reader TTS

Find VA policies on privacy and patient rights, family rights, visitation, and more. Before visiting a patient at a VA facility, review these guidelines:　 VISITING HOURS: Call the medical

center for specific ward visiting hours and information. LOUIS A. JOHNSON VA MEDICAL CENTER: 304-623-3461 VISITING CHURCH MEMBERS If you’re a member of the religious community, we encourage

you to visit patients who belong to your church or religious group. However, you’re NOT allowed to do general visitation by going from bed to bed, ward to ward, or unit to unit.　 BRINGING

FOOD You may bring small amounts of candy, fruit, and other food items if the nursing staff says they are appropriate for a patient's diet. You may not bring fresh fruit and flowers to

patients who are receiving critical care, and you can’t eat or drink in those units. WASHING HANDS You must follow hand-hygiene policy guidelines, which require you to practice good hand

hygiene when you enter and exit patient rooms, and at other times as directed by staff. FOLLOWING INFECTION-CONTROL GUIDELINES You must follow guidelines on infection-control signs and

report to the nurses' station for instructions before you enter a patient's room. STAYING HOME IF YOU ARE ILL If you have a communicable disease, you won't be allowed to visit

patients inside the medical center. PROHIBITED ITEMS You're not allowed to bring weapons, cameras, or other prohibited items into the medical center, except when you're conducting

official business authorized by the Director or their designee. If you have questions about what qualifies as official business, please contact the facility's Director. GIVING PRIVACY

Our staff may ask you to leave the room when they’re caring for patients. If a staff member asks you to leave a patient's room, you may continue your visit in the day room, waiting

area, or any other public area of the facility. VISITING SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS Relatives and friends may visit patients who are seriously ill or in hospice care at any time of day, unless

the staff doctor says no. VISITING PATIENTS IN RESTRAINTS In general, you won't be allowed to visit patients who are in restraints. If the treatment team decides that your visit could

have a positive effect on the patient, then you may have a supervised visit with the patient when a staff member removes the restraints. Our staff will document how the patient responds to

you and other visitors. BRINGING CHILDREN TO VISIT In extreme circumstances, children under 12 may visit with the permission of the physician and the charge nurse. An adult must accompany

children at all times. VISITING PSYCHIATRIC UNITS WITH CHILDREN Children under the age of 16 may visit patients in psychiatric units with the doctor’s permission. LIMITING YOUR VISIT Our

doctors may limit, restrict, or deny visits for the medical well-being of a patient.  We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.  PROHIBITED ITEMS You can't 

bring weapons, alcohol, or illegal drugs into the building.  Because the VA medical center is federal property, all visitors and bags may be searched.   SECURITY  The Louis A. Johnson VA

Medical Center has a police service. Our officers provide 24-hour patrols of the facility and parking lots. * For general police assistance, please dial ext. 3890 on a hospital phone. Or

304-623-3461, ext. 3890 on other phones. * In case of an emergency, please dial ext. 911. Report all suspicious or criminal activity, vehicle accidents, and personal property losses to the

VA Police while on the facility grounds as soon as possible. The medical center is federal property, and therefore all persons and bags are subject to search. In addition, weapons, alcohol,

and illegal drugs are not permitted. VA GENERAL VISITATION POLICY 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 their 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.