See our VA policies on privacy and patient rights, family rights, visitation, and more.
Review the following guidelines before visiting a patient at a VA facility.
Visiting hours:
Call the medical center for specific ward visit times and information.
East Orange VA Medical Center: 973-676-1000
Lyons VA Medical Center: 908-647-0180
visiting church members
If you are a member of a religious group, we encourage you to visit patients who belong to your church or religious group. No General visits are permitted from bed to bed, ward to ward, or unit to unit.
bringing in food
Small amounts of candy, fruit, and other food may be brought in if the nursing staff deems it suitable for the patient’s diet. No fresh fruit or flowers may be brought to patients undergoing emergency care, and no food or drink may be consumed in those units.
wash hands
Hand hygiene policy guidelines must be followed. The guidelines require that proper hand hygiene be practiced when entering and exiting patient rooms and as directed by staff.
Follow infection control guidelines
Before entering the room, you must follow the infection control sign guidelines and report to the nurses station for instructions.
stay home if sick
If you have an infectious disease, you cannot visit patients in the medical center.
Prohibited matter
Weapons, cameras, or other prohibited items are not permitted in the medical center. If you have any questions regarding official duties, please contact the director of the facility.
give privacy
You may be asked to leave the room while the staff is taking care of the patient. If staff asks you to leave your room, you may continue to meet in the dayroom, waiting room, or other public areas of the facility.
Visiting a seriously ill patient
Relatives and friends can visit critically ill patients and patients in hospice care at any time of the day unless the doctor on staff says no.
visiting a detained patient
In principle, we do not allow visits to patients who are self-restraint. If the treatment team determines that your visit may have a positive effect on the patient, you may visit the patient under supervision when the staff releases the restraint. Our staff will record how patients respond to you and other visitors.
Visiting with children
Children of all ages are welcome to visit patients at our medical center. However, for infection control and safety reasons, children under the age of 16 are not permitted to visit certain specialty care units. All children under the age of 16 require direct adult supervision. A child’s bedside visit is limited to her 15 minutes.
Visit a psychiatric ward with your child
Children under the age of 16 may visit patients in the psychiatric ward with permission from their doctor.
visitor restrictions
Our physicians may limit, restrict or deny visits due to the patient’s health condition. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
Prohibited matter
No weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs are allowed inside the building. VA Medical Center is federally owned, so all visitors and bags may be searched.
safety
VA New Jersey Health Care System Police officers patrol the facility and parking lots 24 hours a day. For general police assistance, dial 4130. For emergencies, dial 3000. Report all suspicious or criminal activity, vehicle accidents, and loss of personal property to VA Police as soon as possible while on the premises of the facility.
VA Medical Center is federal property, so all persons and bags are subject to search. Additionally, weapons, alcohol and illegal drugs are prohibited.
VA General Visitation Policy
Medical centers grant patients the right to make decisions about their own care, treatment, and services, and to involve the patient’s family in decisions about care, treatment, and services, to the extent permitted by the patient’s or his/her surrogate decision-maker. respect your rights.
“Family” is defined as a group of two or more persons related by blood or related by adoption, marriage, domestic partnership, or other legal relationship. Family members may also be individuals with whom an individual considers family members or individuals not legally related to individuals (such as significant others, friends, or caregivers). As defined in VHA Handbook 1004.02, family members are empowered to make decisions about their individual care when they have lost decision-making capacity or choose to delegate decision-making to another person. family members can be surrogate decision makers.
Medical centers allow family members, friends, or other individuals to stay with patients for emotional support during their stay. The medical center permits the presence of a support person of the patient’s choice unless the individual’s presence violates the rights or safety of others 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, gender identity or gender expression.