Policies

Durham VA Health Care System has updated our visitor guidelines based on CDC recommendations and our infectious disease experts to keep you and your loved ones safe. Let us know if you have any questions. 

HOSPITAL VISITATION IS LIMITED DUE TO COVID-19 CASES IN THE COMMUNITY

▪ Visitors are asked to be mindful of these guidelines and rules at all times

■ ALL VISITORS

• Wear a mask at all times even if you are vaccinated   
• Please follow all signs & floor labels to stay more than 6 feet from another person Wash your hands or use alcohol hand scrub when you enter the hospital and each time you go in and out of a room  
• Go straight to the area you are visiting and leave when you are finished  
• Visitors that are not able to follow safety guidelines may be asked to leave  

■ Outpatient Areas

• You may have 1 companion with you

■  Emergency Department

• You can work with your care team to choose 1 specific visitor

■ Hospital Medical/Surgical Wards and ICU

• Each patient may have 1 visitor per day from the hours of 11am to 8pm   
• Work with your provider and nurse if you feel you need an exception to these guidelines  
• All patients must wear a mask while a visitor is in the room  
• You may have a drink but please avoid eating in Veteran rooms  

■ Inpatient Mental Health (PARC)

• Visitors must be approved in advance   
• Call the care team to arrange a visit: -5677, or ext. 17-7524, or ext. 17-4933   
• You may have 1 or 2 visitors for 45 minutes  
• Appointments are Mon-Fri at 4pm, 6pm, or 7pm; Sat-Sun at 1pm, 2pm, or 4pm  
• Visits will not be extended for late arrivals   
• Please lock your belongings in your vehicle; items brought into the hospital will be placed in lockers before visitors may enter the PARC unit 

■ Community Living Center (CLC) 

▪ CLC has specific visitor guidelines   
▪ Please check with CLC staff to learn more about these guidelines

Visiting hours:

Call the medical center for specific ward visiting hours and information.
Durham VA Medical Center: 919-286-0411

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 of all ages can visit patients at our medical center. For infection-control and safety reasons, however, children under the age of 16 are not allowed to visit certain specialty-care units. . All children under the age of 16 must be directly supervised by an adult. Children's bedside visits are limited to 15 minutes.

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 Durham VA Medical Center has a Police Service. Our officers provide 24-hour patrols of the facility and parking lots. For general police assistance, please dial 919-286-0411, ext. 176230. In case of an emergency, dial 919-286-0411, ext. 177888. 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 Medical Center is federal property, all persons and bags are subject to search. In addition, no weapons, alcohol, or illegal drugs are permitted.

Parking

Veterans with scheduled appointments and visitors may park in our Parking Deck on levels 3 and 4, adjacent to the entrance on Erwin Road.

Veterans may access the deck at the parking kiosk by presenting their VIC or by taking a ticket from the automatic dispenser.

On busy days (especially Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays), to find a parking space in the garage.  Patients are encouraged to add 60 minutes to their expected travel time from home in order to find parking and check in for appointments on the main campus.

Parking in the deck is free of charge for Veterans.  For all others, parking rates are as follows:

• The first 15 minutes are free
• 15 mins up to 6 hours - $10
• 6 - 12 hours - $15
• 12 - 24 hours - $20

If you cannot find a parking space please contact the parking manager at the booth, call or VA police at extension -6230 to request assistance.  They will identify a location for you to park.  For any other questions or problems regarding parking at our facility, please call the Parking Manager at during normal business hours.

Lost and Found

Lost and found is located in room NG009A on the ground floor near the Medical Center Library.  You may also contact them at extension -5260.

Chapel

A nondenominational chapel is located on the third floor of the hospital in room C3018. Protestant Worship Services and Catholic Mass are held on a regular basis. Please contact Chaplain Service at extension 176596 for additional information or to speak with one of our Chaplains.

Rev. Matthew B. Incorvaia is the Chief, Chaplain Service & ACPE Supervisor at the Durham VA Medical Center. He can be reached at .

Public Transportation

The Durham area is served by Raleigh Durham International Airport, Amtrak, and the Triangle Transit Authority.  Other regional and local transportation options are available through the Durham bus lines and local taxi companies.

Airport Information

The nearest airport, Raleigh Durham International, just east of Durham on Interstate  I-40, is approximately 16 miles from the Medical Center. RDU serves approximately a dozen air carriers.
When traveling to the airport, the trip should take approximately 20 minutes. However, considerable additional time must be allowed if traveling during the morning or evening rush hours as I-40 becomes extremely congested near Research Triangle Park.
Rental cars, shuttle buses, and taxi cabs are available from the airport.
Airport information may be obtained by calling

Ground

Private vehicle: Most travel in Durham is by private vehicle on public streets. 

Major highways:   I-40, I-85 and US 15-501.  Also, State route 147, the Durham Freeway.

Passenger rail: Amtrak’s Carolinian and Piedmont train offers daily service to Charlotte and Raleigh, where connections can be made to Miami, Washington DC, and New Orleans.  Contact Amtrak at .

Other public transportation: Within Durham, the Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) bus system operates local buses in Durham.  There are bus stops located adjacent to the Medical Center on Erwin Road and Fulton Street.  Information about DATA is available at .  The Triangle Transit Authority [TTA] operates buses that serve the region and connect to municipal bus systems in Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill.  Contact TTA at .

Bicycle: All public buses are equipped with bicycle racks.

Notice of Privacy Practice

VHA Notice of Privacy Practice