Visitors

Visitor Information

Visitors of all types play an active and essential role in a patient’s health care journey and across the continuum of care. Their presence in all healthcare settings supports the care team in the delivery of high-quality, patient-centric care.

Denver Health welcomes you to have friends and family of your choice visit you while you are in the hospital without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or age.

The following visitor guidelines and procedures have been adopted by DHHA Units/Clinics/Departments:

Please help us maintain a healing environment by showing consideration for all patients, staff, and visitors and by following these rules:

1. All visitors must be in good Health. Beginning Wednesday, March 1, asymptomatic patients, visitors, and vaccinated staff at all Denver Health facilities may choose to mask but will no longer be required to do so. Masks are still required for infection prevention in the following situations:
   1. Patients with respiratory symptoms while in waiting areas.
   2. Entering the room of a patient on isolation precautions for which a mask is required.
   3. Staff who are unvaccinated against COVID-19.
   4. Staff members with symptoms of a respiratory illness or returning to work after an upper respiratory infection with lingering symptoms.
2. Visitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against communicable pathogens including, but not limited to, influenza and COVID-19. If a visitor has any symptoms of an illness they will not be allowed to stay.
3. Visitors should be considerate of all patients and visitors in a patient’s room, maintain a quiet environment, and avoid unnecessary noise.
4. Visiting hours may be flexed depending on the needs of the patient and the unit and visitation may be restricted/limited when necessary. Please check at the nurse's station for specific hours and guidelines of the unit you are visiting (e.g. “Quiet Hours”, “Shift Change”, etc.).
5. For the safety of our patients in the pavilion for women and children (Pavilion C), all units are secure, and all visitors must check in with the security guard on the first floor to be granted access to patient rooms.
6. Any visitor who is 14 years of age or younger are considered “Youth Visitors.” Patients may bring youth visitors with them to outpatient clinic visits. Special accommodations for youth visitors in the inpatient setting may be made at the discretion of a patient’s care team. All accommodations must be approved by the Nurse Manager or Charge Nurse on duty. A responsible adult must always accompany youth visitors. Youth visitors may not be left alone with a patient or in any area at any time.
7. If you are asked to leave the room, you may go the Good Day Café, gift shop, Subway, the chapel, open waiting rooms, or leave the hospital and return later. Visitors should not wait in hallways or other areas that are restricted or closed. Please do not wait in hallways or other areas that are currently closed.
8. Food and beverages brought in by visitors shall not be given to patient without first receiving permission from the nurse.
9. Home medications, including vitamins and herbal remedies, brought in by visitors (or patient) shall not be given to patient without first notifying the patients nurse or physician.
10. DHHA is a tobacco free environment. This means that smoking and tobacco use are not permitted on the DHHA campus, including buildings, grounds, parking areas, and walkways. Denver Health reserves the right to change visitation guidelines at any time for the health and safety of our patients and team members. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the nursing team on the unit or ask to speak with a Patient Advocate or Administrative Clinical Coordinator.

You may be asked to leave…

• If you remove any required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including masks or face coverings.
• If you have symptoms of an illness.
• During quiet hours, shift change, or if there is a patient care need.
• If you are disruptive, threatening, or violent.
  
   

Other Allowable Visits

Members of a patient’s care team are empowered to make recommendations regarding other allowable visits as needed to support the delivery of high-quality, patient-/family-centered care. Examples of other allowable visits include:

• Individuals who are Near or at End of Life /Comfort Care OR have a Critical Illness or Injury with a high likelihood of dying within 48 hours
• Family Meetings/Conferences
• Patient-Caregiver Training (e.g., Medication Administration, Complex Wound Care, Ostomy Care, Catheter or Drain Care, Tube Feedings, Functional Training with PT/OT)
• Individuals with disabilities may have specific needs for support persons or specialized services including help with communicating. 1 support person must always be allowed for patients who…
  • Are deaf, blind, and/or deafblind
  • Cannot rely on speech to communicate
  • Have mobility impairments
  • Have psychosocial, intellectual, developmental, or cognitive disabilities, including those who have a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment
  • Rely on in-person supports for orientation, emotional support and anxiety management, and assistance with making decisions

For additional updates on how Denver Health is protecting against the spread of novel coronavirus, visit DenverHealth.org/Coronavirus. 

Patient Privacy

Following the enactment of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requirements governing patient privacy effective April 14, 2003, Denver Health must ask patients if they would like to be listed in the patient directory. If the patient chooses to opt out of the directory, Denver Health cannot release information about the patient or acknowledge whether he or she is a patient in the hospital.

If the patient has opted to be included in the directory, Denver Health can release only specific patient condition information to anyone, including media, who asks about the patient by name. If the patient is in no condition to respond as to whether they want to be listed in the patient directory, Denver Health will not list the patient in the directory to protect their privacy.

Regardless of how a person arrives at the hospital, conditions surrounding his/her illness or injuries, HIPAA requires the hospital to ensure patient's privacy.

• Notice of Privacy Practices & HIPAA
• Notice of Privacy Practices & HIPAA in Spanish

Patient Information Desk

For information about a patient, please call 303-602-1240 between 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Monday-Friday or 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on weekends. During all other times, please call the main hospital number at 303-436-6000.

Hotels and Lodging for Visitors

Denver Health has contracted rates with six local hotels; these discounted rates are offered to our patients, patients’ families, contractors, guests to Denver Health, employees, and the family of employees. In addition to the contracted hotels, Denver Health has eight hotels that offer courtesy discounts for Denver Health. While we do not have a contract in place with them, a Denver Health discounted rate may be available. Rates and discounts are not negotiated by Denver Health, and are subject to availability and change without notice. View a list of participating hotels.