Visiting Hours and Policies

Visitor Policies

Upon arrival at the hospital, all visitors must sign in and get a visitor’s pass at the nurse’s station. Visitors must wear their pass at all times while they are at the hospital. Visitors will be escorted to designated visitation areas by staff. If visitors need to use the restroom, staff will escort the visitors to the designated restroom. Visitors are not permitted to use the restroom in individual rooms or enter individual room for any reason unless given permission to do so by the staff. Visiting hours may be modified or canceled at any time at the discretion of the charge nurse to provide a safe environment for patients.

• Maximum of 2 visitors per patient at a time permitted on the unit, additional visitors will be asked to wait downstairs in the lobby area.
• Visitation in your room is not permitted. Visitors must remain in common areas.
• No children under the age of 18 will be permitted to visit the unit.

Visitor Code of Conduct

• Observe all policy and procedures of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute Visiting Policy.
• Respect a patient’s right to privacy. Federal law requires that hospitals comply with strict laws to protect patient’s privacy. Staff can only provide condition updates to patient’s designated representatives.
• Do not visit if you are sick or have an illness that could be transmitted to a patient.
• Be courteous to both patients and hospital staff. Respect other people, their property and hospital property.
• Wear shoes and a shirt at all times (no exceptions).
• Please have a form of identification available upon arrival to unit.
• Please sign in the visitation log book located on the unit, and wear your visitation sticker.
• Items that are brought in for patients, will need to be given to unit staff prior to entering the unit. Staff will need to search all outside items that are being brought in.
• Please secure all personal belongings (purses, large coats, briefcases, etc) in a locker, or in your car.  Outside items will not be allowed on the unit.

The following are PROHIBITED while visiting:

• Cell phones and other electronic devices
• Wearing apparel that displays obscene language
• Possession and/or use of street drugs and alcoholic beverages
• Using disruptive language or violent behavior
• Interfering with the care of a patient
• Use of any form of tobacco – including electronic cigarettes and vaporizers
• Possession of weapons

Visitors who do not comply with this Code of Conduct will be asked to leave Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute property and maybe escorted by security. If a visitor is determined by staff to be detrimental to the treatment of any patient on the unit, that person may be asked to leave the unit and may be prohibited from visiting. Any visitors who become loud and disruptive to the unit may be asked to leave and may be prohibited from visiting.