Visiting Hours and Guidelines
You heal better and more quickly when you feel safe and loved. That's why we encourage your loved ones to visit you when your condition and our capacity allow it. Your friends and family are important parts of your care team!
Because patients are our top concern, we ask you and your visitors to follow guidelines to make sure everyone can heal in a safe and comfortable environment.
Visiting hours and after-hours entry
Having visitors can be a huge benefit to your healing. So are your rest, tests and treatments, so we encourage visitors to communicate with you as well as your nursing staff about what times work best for visits.
Visitors may be asked to leave the room during tests, treatments or visits by doctors and nurses. We suggest keeping visits short enough that you can get plenty of rest too.
Our hospital entrance is locked from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. If visitors come after-hours, they’ll have to enter through the emergency room located on SE Main Street.
Once inside, go to the end of the hall and pick up the phone to talk with the switchboard. They will contact your nursing department to verify you’ve authorized the visit and the nursing staff confirm it's an appropriate time for visitors.
Visiting hours in various departments may differ from the general hospital visitation hours. Please have your visitors check with the nurses' station to verify if visitors are allowed. Visitors are encouraged to dress appropriately and wear shirts and shoes.
Visitor policies
The number and ages of visitors allowed per patient vary by department and medical unit. Sometimes additional restrictions are put in place due to changing public health regulations as well. To avoid disappointment, please talk with your care team so you and your visitors understand your unit's visitor policy.
While masking is not required for patients and visitors in heath care settings, masking is still strongly recommended in all patient care areas. We continue to have masks available for you in our hospital and clinics.
Overnight caretakers
If you want a loved one to stay with you all night, talk with your nursing staff. If your condition allows, we will do all we can to make your caretaker comfortable for the night.
Please note that some units, such as the ICU, do not allow overnight visitors.
Patient updates and contacting patients
Please choose a family spokesperson to check in. By minimizing how many people call, our team has more time to focus on you.
Immediate family may speak directly with your nurse by calling (503) 257-2500 and requesting your unit. Callers will be asked to provide your PIN number. They can also reach you by asking for your room or calling you directly on your cell phone.
Share your PIN: You’ll get a personal identification number (PIN) when you get admitted. Your family may need your PIN to get information, so make sure you give it to your chosen family representative.
Flowers and gifts for patients
Visitors should check with the nurse before bringing gifts of food or drink to you. Some conditions require you to be on specific eating/drinking plans.
Please ask your guests to check with your care team to make sure their gift is appropriate for your unique situation. The intensive care unit (ICU) has additional restrictions, including no flowers, so visitors must check with the unit regarding any gifts for patients.
Visitor guidelines
You and all our patients deserve to recover in a calm and healing environment. To encourage safe and peaceful stay for every patient, we ask all visitors to follow these guidelines.
Prevent the spread of illness
People with fevers, cold symptoms, sort throats or any contagious diseases should not visit patients. Please also ask your visitors and staff to wash or sanitize their hands every time they enter your room.
Smoke- and allergen-free environment
Adventist Health Portland and its clinics are smoke-free facilities. We also strive to keep allergens away for sensitive individuals. Please ask visitors to not wear fragrances or bring latex balloons. Mylar balloons are allowed.
The Adventist Health systemwide policy regarding service animals promotes a safe, healing environment and supports patients who require a service dog. In alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs must be trained to support patients with a disability by performing a specific task. No other animals are allowed within our facilities.
A peaceful, healing environment
Visitors should maintain a quiet environment and avoid unnecessary noise, including speakerphone calls and playing music/videos aloud.
Help us make this space safe for everyone. We work hard to keep disruptive behavior out of our healing environment. That means no tolerance for:
- Physical threats or assault
- Harassment or bullying
- Aggressive threats or gestures
- Abusive or offensive language
Waiting areas
There are specially designated lounge areas for visitors on each patient floor and on the main floor in the lobby. Specific waiting areas have been designated for families of patients in the critical care units, the ER and surgery. During certain hours, a volunteer is on duty in the surgery waiting room to keep family members informed about the progress of surgery.
Food for visitors
We have dining options and vending machines on our main campus, plus many restaurants are near the hospital.