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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. WASHINGTON VA MEDICAL CENTER: 202-745-8000 GENERAL VISITOR GUIDANCE  The Washington DC VA Medical Center is operating according to

Standard Safety Practices for COVID-19. Veterans, VA employees, and visitors who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19, another respiratory infection, or who have had a high-risk exposure to

someone with COVID-19 are required to wear a surgical mask for ten days post-infection or post-exposure. Masking is optional except in Dialysis, Emergency Department, Intensive Care Units,

Oncology, Transplant Units, and the Community Living Center (CLC).  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 Washington VA Medical Center has a

police service. Our officers provide 24-hour patrols of the facility and parking lots. For police assistance, please dial 202-745-8189. 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.