Va central western massachusetts health care | veterans affairs

Find VA policies on privacy and patient rights, family rights, visitation, and more. Before visiting a patient at a VA facility, review these guidelines:　 VISITING HOURS: Call the medical

center for specific ward visiting hours and information. EDWARD P. BOLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER: 413-584-4040 VISITING CHURCH MEMBERS If you’re a member of the religious community, we encourage

you to visit patients who belong to your church or religious group. However, you’re NOT allowed to do general visitation by going from bed to bed, ward to ward, or unit to unit.　 BRINGING

FOOD You may bring small amounts of candy, fruit, and other food items if the nursing staff says they are appropriate for a patient's diet. You may not bring fresh fruit and flowers to

patients who are receiving critical care, and you can’t eat or drink in those units. WASHING HANDS You must follow hand-hygiene policy guidelines, which require you to practice good hand

hygiene when you enter and exit patient rooms, and at other times as directed by staff. FOLLOWING INFECTION-CONTROL GUIDELINES You must follow guidelines on infection-control signs and

report to the nurses' station for instructions before you enter a patient's room. STAYING HOME IF YOU ARE ILL If you have a communicable disease, you won't be allowed to visit

patients inside the medical center. PROHIBITED ITEMS You're not allowed to bring weapons, cameras, or other prohibited items into the medical center, except when you're conducting

official business authorized by the Director or their designee. If you have questions about what qualifies as official business, please contact the facility's Director.　 GIVING PRIVACY

Our staff may ask you to leave the room when they’re caring for patients. If a staff member asks you to leave a patient's room, you may continue your visit in the day room, waiting

area, or any other public area of the facility. VISITING SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS Relatives and friends may visit patients who are seriously ill or in hospice care at any time of day, unless

the staff doctor says no. VISITING PATIENTS IN RESTRAINTS In general, you won't be allowed to visit patients who are in restraints. If the treatment team decides that your visit could

have a positive effect on the patient, then you may have a supervised visit with the patient when a staff member removes the restraints. Our staff will document how the patient responds to

you and other visitors.　 BRINGING CHILDREN TO VISIT Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Minimum age for ICU visitation is 14, unless approved by the staff

physician and/or nurse manager. This policy also includes the summer youth volunteers who may volunteer at the age of 13 and are restricted from working in the ICU units. VISITING

PSYCHIATRIC UNITS WITH CHILDREN Children under the age of 16 may visit patients in psychiatric units with the doctor’s permission. LIMITING YOUR VISIT Our doctors may limit, restrict, or

deny visits for the medical well-being of a patient.  We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.  PROHIBITED ITEMS You can't bring weapons, alcohol, or

illegal drugs into the building.  Because the VA medical center is federal property, all visitors and bags may be searched.   SECURITY  The Edward P. Boland Department of Veterans Affairs

Medical Center campus has a police service. Our officers provide 24-hour patrols of the facility and parking lots. For general police assistance, dial 413-584-4040, ext. 2443 or 3029. In

case of an emergency, dial ext. 2444.  Report all suspicious or criminal activity, vehicle accidents, and personal property losses to the VA Police while on the facility grounds as soon as

possible. Because the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System is federal property, all persons and bags are subject to search. In addition, no weapons, alcohol, or illegal drugs

are permitted. VA GENERAL VISITATION POLICY The medical center respects the patient's right to make decisions about his or her care, treatment and services, and to involve the

patient's family in care, treatment, and services decisions to the extent permitted by the patient or surrogate decision-maker.  "Family" is defined as a group of two or more

persons united by blood, or adoptive, marital, domestic partnership, or other legal ties. The family may also be a person or persons not legally related to the individual (such as

significant other, friend or caregiver) whom the individual considers to be family. A family member may be the surrogate decision-maker, as defined in VHA Handbook 1004.02, if authorized to

make care decisions for the individual, should he or she lose decision-making capacity or choose to delegate decision making to another.  The medical center allows a family member, friend or

other individual to be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of their stay. The medical center allows for the presence of a support individual of the

patient's choice, unless the individual's presence infringes on others’ rights or safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The individual may or may not be the

patient's surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative.  The hospital prohibits discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or

mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.