Visiting a Loved One in Critical Care
When your loved one, relative, or friend is admitted to one of our
critical care/step down units at Winchester Medical Center for close monitoring
and treatment, rest assured their health is our highest priority.
Our specially trained staff provide complete patient care for patients
who need close observation and treatment. We also rely on your help and
support to enable us to deliver the best possible care. We welcome your
questions and concerns. We ask that you follow guidelines and visitor
hours established for our patients’ well-being.
Critical Care and Step Down General Visiting Hours - 8:30 a.m. -10 p.m.
Critical Care and Step Down Quiet Hours - 10 p.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Parking
For easy access, please park in parking garage 2 and walk across the glass
walkway to the second floor. From there, take the elevator to the third
floor for access to all critical care units.
Hurst House
For families living 50 miles or more away from the Medical Center, the
Hurst House is available. Located on the Winchester Medical Center campus,
Hurst House provides a room with shower for visitors. If you are in need
of this service, please let the primary nurse or charge nurse know. You
may also call 540-536-4470 to make room arrangements.
Patient Representative
After admission, the nurse will ask for one person to be designated as
the primary contact to receive updates on your loved one’s
condition from the nursing staff. All phone inquiries about the patient’s
condition will be referred to the patient’s designated contact person.
The patient contact will help by:
- Being the person who receives all communication from the medical team and
relays information to other members of the family.
- Taking phone calls regarding the patient’s condition
- Working with staff to plan individualized visiting guidelines for that patient
- Helping to limit visitors to two immediate family members at any one time
Quiet Time for Rest
An important part of critical care treatment is allowing time for patients
to rest without interruption in a quiet environment, which promotes
healing. Our visitor guidelines are designed to provide critically
ill patients with the best possible setting for recovery and renewal.
Special accommodations may be possible upon request.
To carry out treatments, we ask that visitors be limited to two per patient
in room at any time.
Bedside shift report occurs between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. We ask that you hold phone calls until after
this report.
Phone Numbers
Please call from the waiting area phone to enter the critical care areas.
-
Critical Care Unit 1
Rooms 3501 to 3512 - 540-536-8837
-
Critical Care Unit 2
Rooms 3513 to 3524 - 540-536-8838
-
Critical Care Unit 3
Rooms 3525 to 3536 - 540-536-8830
-
Critical Care Unit 4
Rooms 3537 to 3548 - 540-536-8846
-
Critical Care Step DownRooms 381 to 396 - 540-536-0340
Waiting Areas
Two waiting areas are available for critical care; one for critical care
units 1 & 2 (Rooms 3501-3524), and one for critical care units 3 &
4 (Rooms 3525- 3548).
Children under 12 years of age are not allowed to visit unless there are
special circumstances. Please discuss your circumstances with the charge
nurse on duty. Children may not be without adult supervision in the
waiting areas.
- Use hand sanitizer on the wall near the door of each room when entering
and leaving; infection control guidelines are set to help patient recovery
– GEL IN and GEL OUT.
- No live flowers or plants in patient rooms, but balloons, cards and photographs
are welcome
- Outside food or drinks are not permitted in patient rooms.
- Limit cell phone use and keep conversations in a quiet tone; set phone
ringers on low volume or vibrate.
- Each unit has a charge nurse available to provide additional assistance
with any needs, concerns or questions.
- The nurse may ask visitors to step out of the room when care needs to be
done. This is for patient safety and privacy. Visitors will be notified
by either the nurse or a member of the team when they can return to the room.
- If you would like to participate or assist with your loved one’s
care, please talk with their nurse about ways you can help
- To ensure confidentiality and privacy for all, visitors will be asked to
stay in the patient’s room or in the waiting rooms when visiting,
rather than waiting in the hallways.
- Rest and take care of yourself so you’re in the best possible health
to help your loved one’s recovery
Food
A vending area for food and soft drinks and water is located next to critical
care waiting room B. The cafeteria is located on ground level “G”
of the South Tower.