Hospital visitor policy
Policy Statement
Intermountain Healthcare hospitals do not deny visitation privileges on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity or national origin, religion, creed, language, disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and/or veteran status.
Scope
Intermountain Healthcare Hospitals, Intermountain Nevada. Ambulatory Surgical Centers
Definitions
Authorized Representative - The person a utilizer of health care services designates to assist or handle affairs related to their health care services. This may be someone designated as a Power of Attorney, a family member, friend, caregiver, or an advocate assigned by the patient/utilizer to assist with an exception, appeal or grievance.
Creed - A system of religious belief or faith
National Origin - An individual's, or their ancestor's, place of origin as well as physical, cultural or linguistic characteristics
Socioeconomic Status - Economic and sociological combined total measure of a person's work experience and of an individual's or family's economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education, and occupation.
Sexual Orientation - A person's sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted; the fact of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.
Gender Identity - One's innermost concept of self as male or female or both or neither—how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. It can be the same or different than the sex assigned at birth.
Gender Expression - Refers to the ways in which people manifest masculinity or femininity. It is usually an extension of gender identity.
Rhinorrhea - A condition where the nasal cavity is filled with a significant amount of mucus fluid.
Provisions
- Each patient or Authorized Representative is informed of the hospital’s visitation privileges and hours.
- Visitation privileges and hours in all Intermountain locations and care settings may be limited or restricted as necessary to respond to public health emergencies and other medically appropriate circumstances that would interfere with the care of the patient being visited or the care of other patients. 2.1 Potential visitors are screened, as needed, for evidence of illness such as: fever, cough, sore throat, rash, Rhinorrhea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Sick visitors are asked to refrain from visiting until they are well and may be denied visitation due to patient safety.
- Each patient or Authorized Representative may designate when to receive visitors. Visitors may include, but are not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner, family members, or friends. The patient or Authorized Representative has the right to deny visitation at any time
- All visitors have full and equal visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences.
2.2 Units with especially vulnerable patients (e.g. NICUs, oncology units) may impose stricter visitation limits than other hospital units as long as the same limits are imposed for similar patient populations across the system.
2.3 Visitation is typically not limited or restricted when patients are near the end of life.