Visiting Hours
At Palos, we take very seriously our patients' rights to privacy and personal safety. Hospital visiting hours reflect that concern, and we ask friends and family to respect these guidelines as well.
Medical Surgical Unit
General visiting: 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.
Patients are allowed only two visitors at any one time. Because of the privacy medical-surgical patients require, children under age 12 may visit only on Sundays and holidays, and must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. No child will be allowed to visit if he or she has a known infectious disease or exhibits any indication of sickness, such as cough, runny nose, fever or rash.
Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units
Visiting is based on individual patient needs and conditions. Family members may visit any time, except between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., 11 p.m. and midnight, and during emergency procedures. A sign is posted on the unit door with this information. There can be only two visitors in a patient's room at the same time. Children must be age 12 or older.
Cardiovascular Care Unit
The Cardiovascular Care Unit (CVU) has individualized visiting. Family members may visit the patient based on the individual patient’s needs and condition. Visitation may be restricted in order to allow the patient to have sufficient rest and sleep periods. Please talk with your loved one and nurse to decide upon appropriate time frames. Visiting will be restricted at report times: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and during emergency procedures. Visiting is limited to 2 visitors per patient and children must be over the age of 12.
Maternity Unit
Visiting During Labor and Birth
The immediate family may visit the expectant mom while in labor and after the newborn is one-hour old. The father or primary support person, a secondary support person and the siblings of the soon-to-be-born baby are welcome to share in the birth experience in the birthing room. Siblings attending the birth need to be accompanied by an adult other than the father or the primary support person. Collaboration between the expectant mother, nursing management and the physician may occur for having any additional family members at the birth. For babies born the Cesarean way, the father or primary support person can participate in the joyous event in the Cesarean birth suite.
The father or the primary support person may visit 24 hours a day and receives an identification band that matches the baby's. Grandparents and big brothers and sisters also are given special identification bands to wear. The Family Lounge in the Birthing Center is a comfortable place for the immediate family to relax when not visiting the birthing room.
Family visitors should enter the hospital through the main entrance from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and through the Emergency Department entrance from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The visiting family members should be well (free of infectious illness) and wash their hands before having contact with the baby.
Visiting after the Baby is Born
At Palos, we celebrate the Golden Hour, the first hour of the newborn's life when the new parents get to know and bond with their baby. Immediate family members are welcome to visit anytime after the first few hours after the birth following the Golden Hour. After mom and the baby have had time to rest from the big event, other family members and friends may visit from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the remainder of the postpartum stay.
Grandparents and siblings of the newborn will receive special identification bands to wear. Other family and friends are invitied to relax in the Family Lounge when not visiting in the birthing room.
The new mother may have the father or support person spend the night in her private birthing room if she wishes.
Oncology Unit
There is 24-hour visitation for adults and children age 12 and older. Visitation by children under age 12 must be arranged through your nurse.
Pediatric Unit
Visiting hours are available for parents, legal guardians, siblings and other individuals designated by the parents. Contact the Pediatric Unit for more information.
Ambulatory Care Services
(Emergency Department and Outpatient)
Visiting is limited in treatment areas based on requirements of regulatory agencies, needs of the patients and patient privacy.
Critical Patients
Patients who have been classified as in "critical condition" may receive two visitors at any time.
Surgical Patients
Patients who are to undergo surgery may receive two visitors at any time on the day of surgery.
Holiday Visiting
Visiting on select holidays is from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is restricted to two visitors at a time. Holiday visiting applies to the following:
- New Year's Day
- Easter
- Mother's Day
- Memorial Day
- Father's Day
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- Fourth of July
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
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Restricted Visiting
There are times when a patient's health or safety requires that visitor contact is limited. For any questions about such restrictions, call the Information Desk at (708) 923-8631.
