Visiting Procedures
Planning Your Visit
To arrange for a visit, please contact the Social Worker or the Unit staff in advance of your visit. Patients participate in scheduled daily activities including therapy and educational programs. With advance notice, we can prevent unnecessary delays in your visit and interruptions in the patient's treatment schedule. You will need to coordinate with the treatment team ahead of time to get your name on the patient's approved visitor list in order to visit. Visitors not on the list will be turned away. Contact the patient's social worker with any questions.
On rare occasions, it may be in the best interest of the patient for the Treatment Team to limit visiting. Program Staff will advise and discuss with the patient's family/friends any such restrictions.
Only patients with the appropriate Level and Pass will be allowed outside visits with their family/friends. These visits fall under the set visiting times for each Unit, with the exception of no outdoors visits after dark.
Visitors can obtain maps and information regarding how to find a location on the Hospital grounds, by going to the Switchboard located in the lobby of the Heninger Administration Building. The lobby is open from 7 am to 8 pm every day.
Items Not Allowed on Hospital Grounds
Alcoholic Beverages
Drugs
Poisions
Glue
Firearms & Weapons
Recording Devices
Adult Unit Visiting
Visiting Rooms
Visiting rooms are located by each Unit. Visitors are not allowed in the patient living areas. Some visits might require supervision. Treatment Teams will notify family if such applies.
On Grounds/Off Grounds
Off-unit visits need to be cleared with the Treatment Team prior to the arrival of the visitor. Patients should submit a request or have the visitor call the treatment team to arrange for a visit.
Visiting hours
Visiting hours are between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. It is advised that visitors call the unit to check on their loved one’s status as well as schedules for therapy groups and activities. This will help to ensure that the patient will be available at the time they plan to arrive. Patient Group times usually fall between 9-10 am and 1-4 pm.
Bringing Items
Please be cautious of the items you bring to the unit. Illegal and contraband items are prohibited. Any containers, whether holding food, drink, cosmetics, etc., should be soft or pliable. Even glass and hard plastic can be potentially dangerous for some patients. In addition, visitors should not bring sharp objects such as; scissors, nail clippers, razors, pens, bobby pins, or pierced earrings, etc. No over the counter or prescription medications are to be given to the patient.
Food and Drink
If food is brought, it is to be eaten outside of the Unit, or if the patient is restricted to only on Unit visits, it is to be eaten in the Visitors Room. Please do not bring food for the patient to take back onto the Unit.
Money
Money in excess of five dollars that is brought for a patient is to be turned into the switchboard operator. They will provide a receipt and the money will be deposited in the patient’s account. This is done to help assure the money is kept safe. If up to five dollars is given to the patient, the visitor should notify the unit staff before the money is given.
Small Children
If visitors plan to bring small children or large groups (more than four persons), visitors should clear this with the treatment team prior to leaving home to make sure these visits can be safely accommodated. Children must remain under parental supervision at all times and in the designated area.
Final Clearance
Even though a visit has been cleared ahead of time, there may be an occasion in which the patient is not stable enough for a visit by the time the visitor arrives at the hospital. Final clearance takes place when the visitor checks in at the switchboard in the Administration building before coming to the unit.
Off Unit Visits
All off-unit visits must be cleared by the treatment team prior to the time of the visit. Generally a three day notice is required to allow the Treatment Team time to approve the visit and make necessary arrangements. Patients at Utah State Hospital are not allowed to drive while on any type of visit.
Patient Accompaniment
If a visit involves off-unit or off-ground locations, the visitor must accompany the patient at all times while off the unit and escort them back to the unit. Lack of supervision may result in denial of future off-unit visits.
Forensic Unit Visiting
Visitors
Only immediate adult family members may be considered for visits. Visitors must be on the approved visiting list. Each visitor will show picture identification.
Food and Drink
No outside food or drink is permitted. There are two vending machines in the visiting area available to visitors and patients.
Visiting Hours
Visiting hours are weeknights from 7-9pm and weekends and holidays from 10am-9pm. Due to safety issues, there are times when only noncontact visits will be available.
Bringing Items
Visitors are not allowed to carry purses, cell phones, packages, umbrellas, coats, etc, into the visiting area. Lockers are provided in the lobby for storage of such items.
Money
Money that is brought for a patient is to be turned into the switchboard operator. They will provide a receipt and the money will be deposited in the patient’s account. This is done to help assure the money is kept safe.
Final Clearance
Even though a visit has been cleared ahead of time, there may be an occasion in which the patient is not stable enough for a visit by the time the visitor arrives at the hospital. Final clearance takes place when the visitor checks in at the Forensic Building.
Pediatric Unit Visiting
Call in Advance
It is recommended families call the RN in advance to ensure their child is on the Unit and is at an appropriate level for visitation.
3 levels of visitation
On the Unit, On Campus and Off Campus. In order for a patient to go off campus with a visitor, a doctor’s order is required and would need to be arranged in advance of the visit.
Visiting hours
Preferred visiting hours on weekdays are from 5 pm to 9 pm. Weekend visiting is allowed anytime from 8 am to 10 pm.
Food and Drink
If food is brought, it is to be eaten outside of the Unit, or if the child is restricted to only on Unit visits, it is to be eaten in the Visitors Room. Please do not bring food for the patient to take back onto the Unit.
Further Information
Further information for visitation on the Children’s, Boys’ and Girls’ Units is given to parents/guardians upon their child’s admission to Utah State Hospital.