Visitor Information

Patients & Visitors Links

Making visitors feel welcome.

Visitors can be an important and supportive part of the healing process for many patients. Family and friends are welcome to visit patients hospitalized at Pella Regional Health Center.

Please note that different hospital units have their own visiting hours and policies. These policies were developed to maintain the health and safety of all patients at Pella Regional Health Center. If you are visiting, kindly be respectful of these policies.

From time to time, a member of our nursing staff may ask visitors to leave for a brief time so that we can attend to the patient’s needs. You may wish to spend time in one of our visitors’ lounges or get something to eat.

With Visitors, Patients; Needs Come First

While well-meaning family and friends can be a source of support and comfort to patients hospitalized at Pella Regional Health Center, there may be times when it’s better to not have visitors. The patient may want to rest, or may need privacy for a procedure. Please understand that the needs of our patients come first and foremost.

Each unit has general visiting hours, as posted. However, visiting policies may be individualized based upon a patient’s specific physical, social, emotional or spiritual needs.

Family and friends are able to visit from 10:30 a.m-8:00 p.m. We ask that people with symptoms of an illness not visit the hospital for the protection of our patients and residents.

Family and Friends of New Moms

In general, spouses, support person, or children may visit at any time. Our OB Department requires visitors to be buzzed in by a staff member. While standing outside the OB Department doors, please press the door bell to your right to signal staff.

All visitors should wash their hands before holding or touching a newborn to prevent unwanted germs.

Children less than 12 years old and not a sibling of the baby are not allowed into the OB Department, but are invited to view the baby through the nursery viewing window. This is at the request of our doctors.

Visiting Guidelines

Protecting our Patients and Residents: Share Your Care - Not Your Germs

How to Be a Good Visitor:

Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before entering and when leaving the patient's room.

Expect our staff to clean their hands before patient care. Remind them if they forget.

Cover your sneeze or cough with a tissue or your upper arm. Do not visit if you're sick.

Avoid touching anything used to care for the patient.

Read and follow any instructions posted outside the patient or resident's room.

Eliminate germs when the patient goes home by using disinfectants, such as sprays and wipes, to clean surfaces often.

How to Know if You Should Not Be Visiting at the Hospital:

To protect our patients from infection, please delay visiting your loved one if you have had any of the following symptoms that are new within the last 3 days:

Fever (feeling hot)

Headache and muscle aches (flu-like symptoms)

Cough

Sore throat

Runny or stuffy nose (not due to allergy)

Diarrhea or vomiting

Rash

Open, draining sores or mouth ulcers

Remember that patients are usually weak and more susceptible to infection. It is always best to stay home if you're not feeling well. However, if you are unable to postpone your visit, talk to the patient's nurse before entering the room and explain your situation. Protective equipment, such as a mask, may be required.

If you are unable to visit a patient, you have the convenient option of sending the patient a Send-a-Smile, an electornic greeting. Click here to Send-a-Smile to your loved one.

Tips on Preventing the Spread of Infection:

Q. When should you clean your hands?
A. Clean hands are your best protection against infection. Clean your hands before you eat, before and after changing wound dressings, after contact with body fluids, touching animals and pets, or changing diapers, when entering and leaving patient's rooms, after using the restroom, and before and after preparing food.

Q. How long should it take to wash your hands with soap and water, or sanitize your hands when using a waterless hand product?
A. After applying soap and warm running water, rub your hands together vigorously for 15 seconds or longer. Get in between fingers and scrub wrist areas. Friction is necessary to rid your hands of germs. Rinse your hands and dry them. Use a clean paper towel to turn off the water faucet. Discard the paper towel in a trash can.
Waterless hand sanitizers are very effective for preventing the spread of infection - if you use enough to cover your hands and wrists well. After applying the sanitizer, it should take about 15 seconds to rub your hands dry.

Q. So, how long is 15 seconds?
A. The time it takes to sing The Happy Birthday Song, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, and Mary Had A Little Lamb. But, no speed singing!

Q. Before you cough or sneeze you should?
A. Turn away from other people and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve; not into your hands! If you do sneeze or cough into a tissue, drop the used tissues into the trash and then clean your hands.

Q. How long can cold or flu germs live in countertops, doorknobs and other hard surfaces?
A. 72 hours. Some germs can live three days or longer on hard surfaces. That's why it's so important to disinfect surfaces like countertops, sinks, phones and TV remotes often. Products labeled "disinfectants," such as sprays and wipes, are designed to kill a broad spectrum of harmful bacteria (including Staph and Salmonella) and viruses (like the flu) that other cleaners cannot. Follow the directions on your disinfectant's label to maximize results.

Q. What is the percentage of germs spread through touching of surfaces?
A. 80%. That's why it's so important to clean surfaces often with disinfectants that can help prevent the spread of germs. Be sure to clean your hands, too!

Eating Options

While visiting patients or residents at Pella Regional, you have two great options for dining. Vending machines are located in the Snack Bar and across from the Cafeteria doors.

Hospital Cafeteria

Our Cafeteria is open seven days at week for breakfast (6:30-9:30 am), lunch (11 am-1:15 pm) and dinner (4:30-7pm). Heart healthy menu options are marked with a ‘heart’.

Hospital Auxiliary Snack and Gift Shop

The Snack and Gift Shop is staffed by Hospital Volunteers and offers a wide variety of eating choices and gifts. Proceeds help fund various Pella Regional projects.

Smoking Policy

Currently, Pella Regional Health Center is a smoke-free environment.

Visitors, employees and doctors are not permitted to smoke inside the hospital.

Smoking on the Pella Regional Health Center property is only permitted in the designated Smoke Shack. Please ask a staff member for directions to the Smoke Shack.

Pella Regional Health Center recently announced plans to become a tobacco-free organization effective March 1, 2007.
As a result of the tobacco-free policy, the use of tobacco products will be prohibited on all properties that are owned and maintained by PRHC; including clinics, Christian Benevolent Association, Hilltop Manor and the Hospice of Pella Comfort House.

"This is an important healthcare change," says Bob Kroese, CEO of Pella Regional Health Center. "It is our responsibility as a healthcare leader to ensure our patients, visitors, residents and employees have the healthiest environment possible. We believe that by making this change, we are demonstrating our overall commitment to improving the health of our community, and helping to lower the cost of healthcare."

The new policy will protect employees, patients, visitors and residents at all PRHC campuses from exposure to tobacco and second-hand smoke. "We realize that this will be a challenge for those who use tobacco," adds Kroese. "We believe, however, that the challenge is worth the rewards in good health."