VISITING INFORMATION

ICU Visiting Hours
Daily 10 a.m. - noon; 2 - 4 p.m.; and 7:30 p.m.- 9 p.m.

Visiting hours are enforced. Please help all our patients get the rest they need by leaving when visiting hours are over.

Children under 12 may visit if they are free of infectious diseases. This includes a runny nose, cough or fever. After they are screened at the security desk, young visitors receive a special badge allowing them to visit patient areas. Children under 12 are not permitted in the intensive care unit unless they have permission from the ICU nurses. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Overnight visitors
Any visitor desiring to sleep overnight at the Center must first be cleared by the patient's charge nurse or case manager. Several restrictions apply. Please check with the charge nurse or the case manager for more information.

Two visitors at a time
This allows room for bedside equipment and nursing care. If there are more than two visitors in your group, you may visit with your loved one in our outdoor garden or after hours in a therapy gym, but only with the doctor's permission. If your loved one needs help in moving to these areas, please allow time for us to make these arrangements.

Consider other patients' need for privacy and rest
Knock and announce yourself before entering a patient room. Pull the privacy curtain between beds. Lower your voice. Lower the volume on TVs and stereos.

Do not bring food unless it has been cleared by a nurse. Many patients are on special diets for health reasons or because of swallowing restrictions. Once cleared by nursing, all food brought in and left for the patient to eat later must be placed in a sealed and labeled container (include your name and the date) and, if appropriate, placed in the refrigerator. Even food kept at the bedside must be in a sealed/labeled container, including fruit. Refrigerated food that is not consumed in 3 days will be discarded - including the container. Please make sure you are getting your food out of the refrigerator in a timely manner.

Alchohol, illegal drugs, firearms and pets are not allowed.

Visiting the ICU
In the ICU, no more than two people may visit at a time. Visitors must be cleared by the patient's nurse. Personal items are not allowed in the ICU because of the risk of infection. This includes flowers, photographs, books and personal mementos. No cell phones may be used in ICU. The phone number in the ICU waiting room is 404-350-7696. It is best to appoint one person to call the nurse station for information. This is the only person who will be able to receive information by phone. This process frees the nurses to be at the bedside caring for patients. Children under 12 are not permitted in the ICU unless they have permission from the ICU nurses. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Visiting patients in isolation
Shepherd Center has special rules for visiting patients in isolation. These rules protect you and other patients from the serious risk of certain resistant infections. You will know if the person you are visiting has isolation precautions by noted a red magnet near the door that says "isolation" and there will be a yellow card indicating what you are supposed to do before you enter the room. Please help us maintain a safe environment by following these precautions: