We encourage patient visitation.
North Walton Doctors Hospital is a small rural hospital where family comes first. We welcome patient guests because we realize the essential role they play in a patient’s recovery. We want your family members and guests to visit at times convenient to their schedules. NWDH will abide by F.S. 408.832 in its entirety governing visitation.
NWDH has a new welcoming policy with no “posted” visiting hours, but some general guidelines are in place. Sensitivity and cooperation with these guidelines are greatly appreciated by guests.
Although we are confident our team members will provide the very best care for your loved one, should you have any concerns or requests, please ask to speak with the Unit Charge Nurse, who is available every shift. The North Walton Doctors Hospital is available during the day to assist you.
Download our entire visitation policy here.
For the comfort of our patients, we ask that all guests observe the following:
NWDH will always allow for in-person visitation for all circumstances unless the patient objects.
NWDH does not designate a permissible length of visits, but to promote patient healing and uninterrupted sleep, we encourage visitors to leave and allow patient rest between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The number of people welcomed at the bedside will not be dictated by policy but by collaboration with the patient, family, and interdisciplinary care team. In situations where there are shared rooms, this collaboration will include the other patient and his or her family. To ensure safety, consideration will also be given to the physical limitations of the space.
Patients may designate an adult visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as an essential caregiver. NWDH will recognize at least 2 more hours per day for a patient’s essential caregiver outside of normal visiting hours allowed. NWDH will not require an essential caregiver to perform any necessary care for a patient during their stay.
Consensual physical contact between the patient and their visitor will not be denied.
To ensure the health and safety of all patients, North Walton Doctors Hospital may require visitors to adhere to infection control protocols, including self-screening assessment, sanitizing hands on arrival, before entering the patient’s room and upon leaving the patient’s room, and the use of personal protective equipment as deemed applicable by the hospital policy.
Visitors are educated on the infection control measures stated above during registration and education provided by the department staff based on a patient’s infection control status.
Visitors are not required to submit proof of any vaccination or immunization status.
NWDH will adhere to the most current CDC recommendations for screening patients and visitors with illness. If visitors present with symptoms of an illness, you may be asked to refrain from visiting due to the risk of spreading the illness or use personal protective equipment, such as the wearing of a mask, when visiting a patient.
Children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult other than the patient. Visits by children of any age should always be coordinated with the patient’s primary nurse and the patient/patient’s spokesperson before the visit. For their safety, please do not leave children unattended.
While visiting a patient, remain inside that patient’s room. Please do not enter other rooms or visit other areas of the hospital.
Please keep your cell phones on “vibrate” while visiting.
Because of space limitations and the patient’s condition, staying with the patient overnight in the room is sometimes not possible. You may be asked to sit in a waiting area and may check on the patient frequently.
Patients may choose to approve or deny any visitors of their choice.
Visitation may be delayed, or guests may be asked to vacate the entire unit if there is an emergency or a medical procedure in progress.
Visitation may be limited or prohibited if there is a medical or legal reason.
Physicians and team members will give condition updates, but we are always bound by patient privacy laws. If we need to discuss or provide care that requires privacy for the patient, we may ask visitors to step out of the room per the patient’s requests.
Visitors should not touch or adjust medical equipment at any time.
Patients and visitors are asked to always engage with staff, visitors, guests, and any others at NWDH in a respectful, non-discriminatory manner.
COMPLIANCE
NWDH reserves the right to require a visitor to agree in writing to this visitation policy and procedures.
NWDH may suspend in-person visitation of a specific visitor if the visitor violates the policies and procedures of the facility.