Policies

Before visiting a patient at a VA facility, review these guidelines:　

Visiting hours:

Call the medical center for specific ward visiting hours and information.
Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center: 216-791-3800

COVID Protocols In Place: 

• Inpatient visitation for COVID Negative patients is limited to the hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  One (1) visitor permitted per day.  Visitation hour restrictions do not apply to compassionate care situations. 
• No visitation for COVID Positive patients unless in a compassionate care situation. No more than two (2) designated visitors with appropriate COVID-19 precautions and limitations in place for a one-time visit of 15-minutes each.      
• Scheduled visitation for patients and residents in the CLC, LTC SCI and Acute SCI is based on the unit, involves screening procedures and is subject to change based on community positivity and unit vaccination rates.  Defer to the individual unit for current, specific guidance. Visits must be scheduled at least 48hrs in advance. Compassionate care situations will still allow visitation when deemed appropriate by the medical team regardless of the unit’s current visitation status. As a measure to ensure the safety of all involved, antigen testing of the visitor, prior to visitation is strongly encouraged and is available through VANEOHS. Exceptions may be authorized for visitors under 18 on a case-by-case basis with prior approval through the patient care team & VANEOHS Incident Command. 
• Visitors who screen positive for COVID-19 symptoms or exposures will not be allowed. 
• Companions under the age of 18 are discouraged but are not restricted.

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. (See COVID Protocols)

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. (See COVID Protocols)

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. (See COVID Protocols)

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. (See COVID Protocols)

Staying home if you are ill
If you have a communicable disease, you won't be allowed to visit patients inside the medical center. (See COVID Protocols)

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. (See COVID Protocols)

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. (See COVID Protocols)

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. (See COVID Protocols)

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. (See COVID Protocols)

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 18 are not allowed to visit certain specialty-care units. All children under the age of 18 must be directly supervised by an adult. Children's bedside visits are limited to 15 minutes. (See COVID Protocols – Companions under the age of 18 are discouraged but are not restricted.)

Visiting psychiatric units with children
Children under the age of 16 may visit patients in psychiatric units with the doctor’s permission. (See COVID Protocols – Companions under the age of 18 are discouraged but are not restricted.)

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. (See COVID Protocols)

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. (See COVID Protocols)

Security 

The Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center police officers provide 24-hour patrols of the facility and parking lots. For general police assistance, please dial 216-421-3223.

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