Va tampa health care | veterans affairs

Find VA policies on privacy and patient rights, family rights, visitation, and more. VISITATION POLICY UPDATE In response to the decrease in COVID-19 transmission in the community, Tampa

VA’s visitation policy now allows inpatients to have two (2) visitors at a time. Patients who are COVID-19 positive are allowed two (2) visitors at a time. COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER AND SCI

LONG-TERM CARE - Visitation is allowed. Please call the unit for specific details for visitation. With the community transmission rates declining, we are cautiously easing the visitation

policy for inpatients and will continue to monitor transmission and CDC recommendations to adjust if we need to elevate precautions. Visitation hours are 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. As a reminder,

EVERYONE WHO ENTERS OUR FACILITIES IS REQUIRED TO UNDERGO SCREENING AND WEAR A MASK prior to being granted entry. We will provide updates to this policy as they become available. THINGS TO

KNOW CONDUCT * Do not use alcohol or illegal drugs and do not gamble here while on VA property. * Do not enter areas that are posted “No Patients Beyond This Point.” * Please be considerate

of others while you are here. Keep your voices quiet and the television and radio volumes low so you do not disturb other patients. If anyone bothers you by using a loud voice or bad

language, let a nurse know. * Do not tape record or videotape any conversations with the health care team or other patients without their written permission. CLERGY Members of the clergy are

welcome to visit patients who are members of their particular religious group at any time at the discretion of the unit physicians or nurses. SMOKING Do not smoke anywhere in our buildings

or near the entrances to the buildings. We are a smoke-free environment. Designated smoking areas are located in designated areas outside the buildings. If you smoke within the hospital, you

are subject to fines and other disciplinary actions. WEAPONS Do not bring any weapons onto VA property. Everyone is subject to inspection of all packages in their possession. Refusal of

consent to inspection is basis for denial of entry onto VA property. If you have any weapons, you must give them to the VA Police to hold during your stay here. ------------------------- 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. SECURITY  Tampa VA has a police service. Our officers provide 24-hour patrols of the facility and parking lots. For general police assistance while on hospital

grounds, dial 7554. In case of an emergency, dial 1440. 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. Our parking lots are also equipped with emergency phones that automatically ring the security office when picked up. Because Tampa VA hospital 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.