Visiting Hours
The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System respects the patient's right to make decisions about his or her care, treatment and services. Patients also have the right to involve family in care, treatment, and visitation.
We encourage all of our patients to have visitors during their stay at the medical center. Visitors can be family, friends, or any person who plays a significant role in the patient's life. 'Family' is defined as a group of two or more people united by blood, or adoptive, marital, domestic partnership, or other legal ties. 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. Our patients are given the freedom to choose their visitors unless the presence of a visitor(s) violate rights, safety or is medically or therapeutically inadvisable for the patient. Visitors may or may not be the patient's delegated decision-maker or legally authorized representative. All visitors will be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect as an individual. Consistent with Federal law, VA policy, and accreditation standards of The Joint Commission, you will not be subject to discrimination for any reason, including for reasons of age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
NOTE: Many of our rooms are not private rooms, please be considerate to those sharing a room with your loved one while you are visiting. Children under 12 should remain under adult supervision at all times and be free of obvious infection when visiting patients.
- General Hospital Visiting Hours (Bldg. 100)
Daily: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Accommodations may be made for overnight and extended visiting hours by asking the patient’s healthcare team. - Hospital Intensive Care Units (ICUs) (Bldg. 100)
Daily: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
We usually request that only 2 visitors at a time visit patients in the ICUs. Other arrangements can be made by asking the healthcare team. Visitors can use the phones in the ICU waiting rooms to speak with a member of the healthcare team to determine if it is an appropriate time to visit. Children under 12 are generally not allowed in the ICUs. - Acute Mental Health Services (Bldg. 1 Floor 4 & 5)
Daily: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Visitors’ are not permitted in the bedroom areas. Staff may restrict visitors if it is not in the therapeutic interest of the patient. - Community Living Center (Bldg. 71)
Visiting hours in our Community Living Center (CLC) are at the discretion of the resident. The healthcare team will support the resident’s choice for visiting hours while ensuring respect, safety and privacy for our other CLC residents. - Residential Treatment Programs (Domiciliary Bldg. 102)
The Domiciliary is closed to guests from 9:00 pm to 7:30 am daily. Visiting hours in the Domiciliary are at the discretion of the resident and dependent on scheduled treatment activities. - Emergency Department
Visitors should use the Emergency Department (ED) waiting areas. The Healthcare team will determine when visitation is appropriate for the patient.
Things to Know
ATM Machines
ATM machines are located on our main campus in the dining area of the Food Court in Bldg. 1, in the vending area by the front lobby of Bldg. 100, and outside the Bay Pines Federal Credit Union building.
Conduct
- Do not use alcohol or illegal drugs and do not gamble 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.
Fire and Disaster Drills
Fire and disaster drills are practiced so that the staff will know what to do in a real emergency. If you hear the fire alarm, be calm and follow the instructions given to you by the staff in your area.
Gifts
Do not give gifts or money to any of our employees. It is our privilege to take care of you.
Homeland Security
Homeland Security guidelines require certain measures to protect you and our staff, including limiting access to our grounds and buildings. The doors are open 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. After hours you may enter the main hospital building only through the Emergency Department. Our west main gate (Bay Pines Blvd. and 100th Way N.) is usually open. Our east gate (Bay Pines Blvd. and 95th Way N.) is closed on weekends, holidays, and on weeknights from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Lost and Found
Read about our Lost and Found here.
Newspapers and Periodicals
Local newspapers are sold throughout the medical center. Additional periodicals are available from the Patient Library on the first floor of Bldg. 100. Volunteers may also distribute reading material to inpatients.
Pets
Pets are not allowed on VA property, except for service animals or those involved in pet therapy programs sponsored by Recreation Therapy. Do not leave pets in your car.
Post Office
The US Postal Service office at Bay Pines is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays and is closed for lunch from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The Post Office is located on the first floor of Bldg. 20.
Shuttle Service
The shuttle service program consists of passenger carts which make continuous loops to and from the visitors' parking lots and the Medical Center. All shuttle stops are clearly marked. There is also a separate shuttle that runs between the VA Regional Office and the Medical Center's Outpatient Entrance. The shuttles run Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., excluding holidays. We use volunteers to operate our shuttles. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our Volunteer Information page.
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 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. In accordance with Federal regulations, you may not leave weapons in your vehicle while it is parked on VA property.
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, martial, 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 stay. The medical center allows for the presence of a support individual of the patient's choice, unless the individual's presence infringes on other's 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.
