Guidelines for Primary Supports and Visitors (Pediatrics) HF#6642

 

American Family Children’s Hospital supports a patient and family centered approach to care.  This means that you can help us plan the care of your child.  As part of planning the care during your child’s stay, we will ask you to tell us which people closest to you and your child can provide you with support.  Most patients and families need help and support.  Needs vary from one family to the next.

 

We have defined two types of people that may be with you during your stay.  Primary Support Persons are those people your child relies on most for support.  Visitors are guests of your child and your family.  This handout will review the roles of each of these.  

 

Who are Primary Support Persons?

 

• People who provide you with the support you need
• Physical
  •       Psychological
  •       Emotional/Spiritual   
• Your support persons may include
• Parents
  •       Relatives
  •       Best friends

 

Who are Visitors?

 

• They are guests of your child or your family. 
• They may only visit at certain times during the day.
• Visitors under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.

 

How Do I Choose Who my Primary Support Persons Are?

 

• Your child’s Primary Nurse will review the Primary Support and Visitor Guidelines with you. 
• At any time during your stay, you may tell us who your primary support people are.  Most often, this will include a small number of people. 
• You are free to change your Primary Support people at any time.

• We will make sure your child has quiet time to rest and relax.  We will help you balance the need for support and the need for rest. 

 

When are visiting hours?

 

• Primary Supports may be with your child at any time.  People not listed as primary supports may visit between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• All Primary Supports and visitors must stop at Security or the Guest Depot for pre-screening before going to a child’s room.  This is to increase safety.

 

Am I allowed to spend the night in my child’s room?

 

• Parents or Primary Supports are welcome to visit with their child.  We support family centered care.  We know a patient’s needs are best met with support from family and loved ones.  Patient rooms are designed to allow one guest, 18 years of age or older, to spend the night.  If you feel your child’s needs are best served by having both Primary Supports present, we will do our best to meet that request.
• Staff must check on your child often to assess and measure response to treatments.  These cares occur throughout the night.  Therefore, your sleep may be disturbed at times.  If you prefer, we can help you find a place to stay outside the hospital.
• Families, Primary Supports, and/or visitors are discouraged from sleeping overnight in the lounge or waiting areas.  We will help you find a place to stay outside the hospital.
• All patients need quiet time to rest.  If staff feels your child needs rest, they may speak with you about limiting the number of guests.

 

How are Badges Obtained?

 

Our goal is to provide a safe environment.  One way to ensure this is to give after hour badges to those people who have been granted permission to stay after 9 pm.  Primary Support persons and visitors must obtain an ID badge in order to stay after hours.

 

• Primary Support
• To get an ID badge, primary support persons must receive a card from the unit staff.  The card is then taken to the Security Office found near the Main Entrance of the hospital.  This must be done before 9 pm. 
• The badge will be valid for the length of your stay.  It needs to be returned to your nurse upon discharge or in the event that you do not plan to return to the hospital during this stay.
• Visitors
• If a visitor has been given permission to visit after hours, they must go to the Security Office on the first floor of the AFCH building to obtain a badge.  This must be done before 9 pm.
  •        These badges are valid only for one night. 

 

Who Should Not Visit?

 

There are times when people should not visit a child in the hospital.   

 

• If you or your child decide that you do not want people to visit at a certain time
• If you or your child no longer wish to visit with a certain person
• If the visitor or primary support has been exposed to an infection or illness
• Active tuberculosis
• Chickenpox
• Shingles
• Measles
• Mumps
• Acute respiratory illness
• Colds
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Flu
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Certain skin infections

 

People who have been exposed to an illness should check with their doctor to see if they can get or spread the illness.  If so, they should not come to visit for three weeks from the time they were exposed.  For any health condition where the safety of visiting is uncertain, they should check with their doctor.

 

The Spanish version of this Health Facts for You is #7203.

 

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 05/02/2011

Copyright © 01/26/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6642

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