Policies

Visiting hours for inpatients at VA Boston Healthcare System:

• Brockton and West Roxbury campuses – between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week.
• A patient or resident who is suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 cannot be visited in person. Exceptions can be made for end of life or other extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of nursing / clinical leadership. 

We appreciate how important visitation is to healing, and we will continue to facilitate virtual visitation using iPads and cell phones for those unable to visit in person. Additional visitation options are available for end of life care.

VA Boston supports our patients' right to receive visitors designated by the patient. We welcome visitors regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

Thank you for your patience and understanding of our continuing efforts to protect our patients and coworkers.

Code of conduct

VA Boston Healthcare System seeks to foster safe, respectful workplaces for staff and healing environments for patients. Please read our Code of Conduct.

Escorting Veterans to outpatient visits

Veterans should come alone to outpatient appointments whenever possible. One spouse, family member, caregiver or other escort, age 16 and over, may accompany the Veteran to an appointment or an urgent care / emergency room visit when necessary for mobility assistance, to facilitate communications, or when otherwise essential to the care of the patient, subject to the discretion of the clinical care team.

Masking

As of May 12, 2023, masking is no longer required at VA Boston HCS facilities, except under these circumstances...

• Patients presenting with symptoms should wear a facility-issued mask over their mouth and nose.  Symptoms include: 
  • Fever or chills
  • Cough, shortness of breath, nasal congestion or runny nose
  • GI Symptoms (upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, recent vomiting)
  • Loss or reduction in sense of smell or taste
• Patients should also mask during the first 10 days of their COVID diagnosis 
• Patients waiting or receiving care in high-risk areas, such as a Hematology/Oncology infusion center, should also mask; signs will be present to designate these high-risk areas
• Visitors should not come to the medical center if symptomatic or diagnosed with COVID within the last 10 days, unless otherwise indicated by the clinical care team, so please call ahead

Please note that Veterans, staff and visitors may still mask if they would like.

Security 

VA Boston Healthcare System has a Police Service. Our officers provide 24-hour patrols of the facility and parking lots. For general police assistance, please dial 45291 on a hospital phone. Or you can dial on any phone 774-826-1107 or 774-826-2530.

In case of an emergency, dial 55911 on a hospital phone. Or you can dial on any phone:

• Brockton VA Medical Center: 774-826-3375
• Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center: 857-364-5293
• West Roxbury VA Medical Center: 857-203-6007

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 Boston Healthcare System is federal property, all persons and bags are subject to search. In addition, no weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs are permitted.

Service dogs

We welcome service dogs of all breeds at VA Boston! Service dogs inside VA facilities must meet all of these requirements:

• The service dog must be trained to work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or mental health disability. 
• The service dog must be under the control of its owner or another handler at all times.
• The service dog is not permitted to access certain areas of VHA property to ensure that patient care, patient safety, and infection prevention and control standards are met, such as operating rooms.

We don't allow any other animals inside VA facilities, but we may make exceptions for VA working dogs, such as police dogs, facility dogs, or animal-assisted therapy under VA clinical supervision. Dogs that provide only emotional support, comfort or companionship don't qualify as service dogs and are not allowed inside VA facilities.