GENERAL GUIDELINES/POLICIES

Visiting Hours
Visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. We request that no more than two visitors at a time be in the room. Visitation by children under the age of 12 may be restricted based on the patient's condition. Please check with the attending nurse. For their convenience, all of your patients are given a card containing their nurse's name and cellular phone number.

Intensive Care Unit
Visitation may occur for 10 minutes on the hour and is limited to one visitor at a time unless otherwise authorized by the attending nurse or physician. Children under the age of 12 will be allowed to visit in ICU only at the discretion of the attending nurse or physician.

Mercy Family Birthplace
Father or significant other may visit anytime. During active labor, visitors are limited. Please check with the attending nurse. Visitation by children under the age of 12 is limited and all children, including siblings, must be accompanied by an adult.

Infection Control
Mercy has a desire to protect our patients and staff from infectious and communicable diseases. For this reason, the staff follows guidelines, called Standard Precautions, when caring for our patients. This helps prevent the spread of organisms (germs) between hand washing and wearing gloves when appropriate.

In certain circumstances, you may see a special sign on a patient's door with instruction for certain infection control precautions. If this sign is present, please check with the attending nurse for assistance before you visit the patient. Many patients have weakened immune systems that make them very susceptible to a variety of illnesses. People who are ill with a cold, fever, diarrhea, flu or contagious disease should not visit a patient in the hospital. In addition, children who have been exposed to, or have, chicken pox, measles, mumps, pinkeye or rubella should not come to the hospital to visit a patient.

Smoking
Smoking is prohibited within the hospital. However, a designated outdoor smoking facility is located to the west of the hospital on the Lower Level.

Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage is prohibited in the hospital as it may interfere with the function of critical medical equipment. You may notice some of the patient care staff utilizing personal cell phones. This is a special dedicated internal cell system which operates on a different frequency than standard cellular phones and does not interfere with hospital equipment.

VISITOR SERVICES

Parking
Visitor parking is available in several areas surrounding the hospital campus. To the west, parking is provided in the lot of the Medical Plaza Suites West. Curbside parking is located to the north, along Laurel Street; to the east, along 14th Street; and on Myrtle Street to the south. In addition, a large parking lot is located to the southeast diagonally across Myrtle Street. Handicapped parking spaces are reserved along the north drive, immediately outside the canopied Outpatient and Emergency entrance.

Cafeteria
The hospital cafeteria offers lunch service seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. A variety of entrees, side dishes and desserts are available along with a fresh salad bar. The cafeteria is located on the Lower Level directly in front of the main elevator.

Gift Shop/Snack Bar
The Coffee Dock is open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. A hot breakfast is served every Wednesday and Friday morning. Daily menu items include latte's, coffee, flavored coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, juices, soda, fresh fruit, bagels, cinnamon raisin toast, and homemade coffee cake or breads are served daily. The gift cart is stocked with seasonal gift items ranging from $2 to $10. Greeting cards are also available for 99 cents.

Chapel
The chapel is located on the First Floor in the Administration area, and is open at all hours.