Patient & Visitor Resources

Effective Date: 03-26-2024

In order to protect our patients and healthcare personnel and to reduce the potential risk of disease  transmission to patients, visitors, staff and the community, Northern Louisiana Medical Center,  Allegiance Medical Clinic, Allegiance Medical Clinic of Ruston and Tech Care have limited points of  entry into the facilities. The following guidelines will be adhered to by all CLHG – Ruston, LLC  personnel and visitors. 

At no time may any staff member make exceptions to the visitation policy without  Administration or Supervisor approval. Any staff member that does not follow the Visitor’s  Policy may be subject to disciplinary action. 

1. Northern Louisiana Medical Center Visitor Restrictions: 
2. Presence of Visitors

If a clergy visit is requested, the member of the clergy does not count toward a patient’s number of  daily visitors.  

 No one under the age of 16 is allowed in the facility unless seeking medical treatment with the   exception of the Women’s Center. Siblings may visit when accompanied by a parent or   caregiver after delivery during the designated visiting hours.  

1. Visitors Accompanying Patients

Isolation rooms: Two visitors at a time.  

Appropriate PPE must be worn by any visitor visiting in any isolation room at all times  while in the room . 

Emergency Department: Two visitors are allowed, this excludes the following: 

o Pediatric patients: both parents or a designated caregiver is to remain with the child at all  times throughout the ED visit. If a single parent arrives with the patient’s siblings, all family  members will remain together at all times throughout the ED visit. 

o If a single parent arrives seeking medical treatment and they have a child with them, the child  must remain with the parent at all times.  

o If the patient is admitted, they may have two visitors but will adhere to all other inpatient  visitor guidelines.  

One Day Surgery Northern Louisiana Medical Center: Two visitors may remain in the  patient’s room. If no room is available, the visitors will be asked to wait in the surgical waiting  room until the patient has been placed in a room. Once a room is available the visitors will  be notified. The visitors will remain in the patient’s room until time of discharge or admission.  If the patient is admitted, the visitors must adhere to the inpatient visitor guidelines.  

Outpatient Surgery Ruston Surgical Center: Two visitors may remain in the patient’s  room. If no room is available, the visitors will be asked to wait in the waiting area until the  patient has been placed in a room. Once a room is available the visitors will be notified. The  visitors will remain in the patient’s room until time of discharge. 

Inpatient Medical Units: May have visitors between the hours of 8:00 am and 9:00 pm.  One designated visitor is allowed to stay overnight. Visitors may be limited at anytime at the  discretion of the facility. In addition, the following visitation stipulations are in effect: 

o Inpatient surgical procedure after visiting hours: two visitors may wait in the patient’s room  during the procedure and may remain in the room for one hour post procedure dependent  upon the patient’s status and location.  

Medical ICU: TWO visitors at a time during the following times 

10:00am – 1:00pm 

4:00pm – 8:00pm  

 Visitors may be limited at anytime at the discretion of the facility. 

Women’s Center: May have three visitors during labor. After delivery may have visitors  between the hours of 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. One designated visitor is allowed to stay overnight.  Visitors may be limited at anytime at the discretion of the facility.  

Pediatrics: a parent or designated caregiver is to remain with the child at all times throughout  the hospital stay. Both parents may stay the night. 

Inpatient Rehab: May have visitors between the hours of 8:00 am and 9:00 pm. No visitors  will be allowed to stay overnight. Visitors may be limited at anytime at the discretion of the  facility. In addition, the following visitation stipulations are in effect:

1. Monday thru Friday the front doors will be locked at 5:00 pm. To gain access after 5:00   pm, visitors will need to call 254-7112, provide the name of the patient they will be   visiting and staff will let them into the building. 
2. Weekends and Holidays the front doors will remain locked at all times. To gain access   during visiting hours, visitors will need to call 254-7112, provide the name of the patient   they will be visiting and staff will let them into the building. 

Special circumstances: visitation has been approved by Administration or the House  Supervisor, this includes end of life circumstances.  

1. Disruptive Visitors:

If a visitor refuses to adhere to the visitation policy, Security will be called to escort the visitor  out of the facility. 

If a visitor becomes disruptive, engages in behavior that is offensive, hostile, or potentially   harmful to others, the visitor will be asked to leave. Staff will call 911 if they need assistance   in removing a disruptive visitor from the premises.  

1. Business or Vendor Visitors: Refer to the “Vendor and Healthcare Industry Representative   Policy.” 
2. Law Enforcement, Governmental and Agency Visitors: These visitors should likewise be   identified by name tag, name badge, uniform, business card, or through personal knowledge by   the staff in the event of local officials or repeat visitors. Other considerations include: 
3. Hospital personnel should abide by any emergency instructions or directives given by  officials from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP)  or from local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies when these officials enter the  building in an emergency or disaster situation. 
4. If accompanying a patient for medical treatment refer to the “Patient in Law Enforcement  Custody Policy.” 
5. Healthcare Clinics 
6. Presence of Visitors: From time to time, it is necessary for visitors to be present in the clinic for   purposes other than the provision of medical services. Visitors should not be left unattended in   the clinic at any time. Visitors may include the following individuals: 
7. Caregivers, family members and individuals who accompany patients or provide  transportation services; 
8. Individuals who represent companies that provide supplies, materials, samples or  equipment for the clinic; 
9. Individuals who provide third-party services, such as equipment maintenance, cleaning,  pest control, consulting, etc., to the clinic under arrangement or contract; 
10. Community representatives (Chamber of Commerce, Local Governmental  

representatives, etc.); 

1. Officials from local, state, and federal regulatory agencies including administrative  representatives, inspectors, surveyors, or auditors; 
2. Law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel; 
3. Other individuals with an occasion to visit the clinic other than to receive medical care.

1. Visitors Accompanying Patients:  
2. The clinic administrator, the provider on-site or other key personnel have the discretion  to limit the number of family members or other individuals who are allowed to  accompany the patient into the exam room or other treatment areas of the clinic. 
3. The clinic administrator, the provider on-site or other key personnel have the discretion  to limit the number of people in the waiting room to patients and an appropriate number  of non-patient family members or friends in order to accommodate patients. 
4. Disruptive Visitors: If a visitor becomes disruptive, engages in behavior that is offensive,  hostile, or potentially harmful to others, the visitor will be asked to leave.  
5. Clinic staff should call 911 if they need assistance in removing a disruptive visitor from  the premises. 
6. Clinic employees should have a designated code word or other signal to alert clinic staff  of a potentially dangerous situation. Employee training should include policies and  procedures for dealing with disruptive or potentially dangerous individuals. 
7. Business-Related Visitors: Before an individual is permitted into the back of the clinic, the front  desk employee should confirm the identity of the person, the company which the person  represents, and the reason for the visit. This verification can be made by: 
8. The employee’s personal knowledge of the person’s identity and company affiliation  based on the visitor’s prior visits to the clinic or based on knowledge of the person in the  community. 
9. Business-related visitors can further be identified by name tags, name badges, business  uniforms which include names or logos, or by presentation of a business card. c. The visitor should remain at the front desk or waiting room area until it is an appropriate  time for them to enter other parts of the building or see the appropriate person  responsible for the visit reason. 
10. Visitor Log: It is at the discretion of clinic administrator to initiate the use of visitor log if visitor  traffic in and out of the clinic becomes a security concern. In this case, a visitor log will be  maintained at the front desk.  
11. Law Enforcement, Governmental and Agency Visitors: These visitors should likewise be  identified by name tag, name badge, uniform, business card, or through personal knowledge by  the staff in the event of local officials or repeat visitors. Other considerations include: 
12. Clinic personnel should abide by any emergency instructions or directives given by  officials from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP)  or from local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies when these officials enter the  building in an emergency or disaster situation. 
13. Other governmental and agency officials should wait to be escorted to the back by the  party who is responsible for coordinating the visit. 
14. The clinic administrator or provider on duty has the discretion to mandate restrictions or  ask for additional requirements when law enforcement officers accompany prisoners  who are being seen as patients.

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