Patients and visitors

UF Health Psychiatric Hospital reserves the right to exclude visitors only if such access will be detrimental to the patient or visitor. Administration, Director of Nursing, Nurse Manager or designee is responsible for staff adherence to visitation policies and procedures and authorized to invoke limitations and grant exceptions.

Former patients are not permitted to visit until 30 days after discharge in order to maintain a therapeutic environment for all patients.

Only persons authorized by the patient (≥ 18 years old), proxy, or guardian (if < 18 years) will be permitted to visit.

The number of visitors at one time may be limited to two visitors due to space, patient condition, overall conditions on the unit or infection control reasons.

Visitors who do not comply with visitation rules may be asked to leave the building.

Visitors who are exhibiting signs of illness, such as frequent coughing and/or sneezing, may be asked to leave the patient care area.

Other visitation arrangements outside of scheduled visiting hours may be made by contacting the unit Nurse-in-Charge with consultation of the treatment team.

General visiting regulations

Visiting hours

• General visiting hours will be 5:00pm-7:00pm daily
• Visitation Hours will be up to two hours in duration.
• Visitors are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes prior to the visitation (4:30pm), as the group will be escorted to the assigned unit by Security at the top of the hour.
• Failure to show during the recommended hours will result in waiting until the next day.
• At the end of visitation, visitors will be escorted back to the lobby by Security.
• Children under the age of 18 are not permitted on the psychiatric units. Arrangements can be made as warranted for a visiting area off the unit as patient condition permits.
  • Children who are attending family meetings are acceptable when accommodations have been made to have children under 18 off the unit.

The patient’s right to communicate

• Phones are available on every unit for the patients to use. All patients have the right to, despite any possible phone restrictions:
  • Report an alleged abuse
  • Contact and receive communication from their attorney
  • Call identified clergy
• The right to communicate or receive visitors is never restricted as a means of punishment.

Visitor check-in and identification

• Visitors must present to the lobby receptionist and must be on the list of approved visitors for each specific patient. The receptionist and the unit will reference the form for approved visitors.
• If a visitor’s name is not on the approved list, the lobby receptionist will request the visitor to take a seat, and then call the patient’s nurse on the unit per the following procedure:
  • Explain that a visitor has presented that is not on the approved list at the reception desk.
  • The nurse will check this against the approved list on the unit.
  • If the visitor is not on the unit’s approved list, the nurse will ask the patient if he/she wants to see the visitor, and if so, add the visitor’s name to the approved list and have the patient initial next to this change.
  • The unit staff will take a new copy of the approved list to the front reception area, and visitor will be allowed back to the unit with normal sign in and badge procedure.
  • If the patient does not wish to see the visitor in question, lobby receptionist is to inform the visitor as such and the visitor will not be allowed onto the unit.
  • If the patient has a signed phone restriction form, it maybe used for visitor restriction as well.
  • If at any time the nursing unit cannot be accessed by phone, the lobby receptionist will immediately call the Nursing Coordinator on duty to have him/her go to the respective nursing unit to determine visitor status.
• UF Health Psychiatric Hospital reserves the rights to exclude visitors based on safety concerns or by physician order accompanied by signed Restriction of Communication form.
• Upon approval of visitation, visitors must read the confidentiality statement on the sign in board at the front desk and sign in before entering through the locked doors.
• This facility does not require visitors to provide proof of vaccination or immunization status.
• All visitors to UF Health Psychiatric Hospital must be identified with an appropriate visitor badge.
• The hospital receptionist will issue a color-coded badge to the visitor(s), indicating the approved access area(s) for the visitor(s). These colors are:
  • Yellow: Any meetings held in 1301 or 1222 by non- employees. Yellow badges are not permitted on the nursing units.
  • Pink: Entry into Intake. Pink badges are not permitted on the nursing units.
  • Green: Entry into locked unit.
  • Visitors are to return the color-coded badge to the hospital receptionist before leaving the facility.
  • Visits outside of the program visiting hours are coordinated with the unit charge nurse.

• Visitors are not permitted in patient rooms throughout the duration of the visit. The room doors of patients with visitors, will be locked just prior to visitation hours and will remain locked throughout visitation.
  • Visitors that need to have private conversations with the patient, please speak with the Unit Charge Nurse. The Unit Charge Nurse will arrange accommodations in the group room along with an assigned observer.
  • COVID-19 positive patients will remain inside their room during visitation hours. Visitors of COVID-19 positive patients’ will be provided a face mask, gown, and gloves and will be permitted inside the patient’s room.
• Visitors and patients are permitted to have consensual physical contact such as hugging, hand shoulder contact, and holding hands during visitation. Other forms of consensual contact such as kissing, sitting on each other’s lap, or socially inappropriate consensual physical contact is not permitted.
• Conduct and attire
  • Visitors shall refrain from speech or actions disruptive to the peace and well-being of patients. Alcoholic beverages and other inappropriate substances shall not be brought into the hospital.
  • All visitors must be fully clothed when in the facility. Visitors in attire inappropriate for the facility may be asked to leave.
  • Visitors are to leave personal belongings either in their vehicle or in the lockers available in the lobby of the facility.
  • All items brought in for patients are to be left at the front desk and must be screened by the nursing staff prior to being delivered to the patient.
• Infection control
  • All visitors must comply with infection control policy.
  • Visitors must perform hand hygiene prior to entering the locked unit and upon leaving the locked unit.
  • Families and visitors are asked to use the public restrooms rather than the patient bathroom.
  • Visitors with colds, fever, GI symptoms, eye or skin infections or other contagious diseases may be excluded from visiting. If symptoms are present, visitation will not be allowed.
  • Visitation restrictions may be placed during flu season, epidemics or pandemics.

Clergy visitation

General

Clergy visitation is encouraged. Clergy access is not limited to visiting hours nor restricted when the patient has other visitors.

Guidelines

• Clergy shall respect the patient’s rights, the physical limitations of the patients, the treatment plan prescribed by the attending physician, and the hospital setting.
• Random or unsolicited visitation to other patients is not permitted.

The decision to be admitted to UF Health Psychiatric Hospital for treatment can be overwhelming. You may have many unanswered questions. Our goal is to give our patients the best care possible through quality care and peace of mind.

For visitors

Visitation guidelines

To maintain safety, UF Health Psychiatric Hospital has the following guidelines in place:

• Visitation hours are 5-7 p.m. daily. If you would like to visit outside these hours, please talk with the unit charge nurse

• Visitors should arrive 15 minutes before their visit to allow time for their check-in

• Visitors must have:

  • their personal identification

  • the patient ID number, and

  • be on the visitation/contact list

• Purses, bags, phones and other personal belongings are not allowed inside. Please keep them in your vehicle or place them in the lockers located in the lobby

• No outside food or beverage is permitted

• If you have brought something for a patient, leave it at the front desk. All items must be screened by the nursing staff. The staff will deliver approved items to the patient

• The number of visitors at one time may be limited to two visitors due to space, patient condition, overall conditions on the unit or infection control reasons

• Visitation take place in the dayrooms of the units

• Visitors are not permitted in patient rooms during visits. Patient rooms will remain locked throughout visitation

• A visitor may need to have a private conversation with a patient. If so, please speak with the unit charge nurse. They will arrange for you to use a group room. An assigned observer will be present in the group room

• Visitation can last for up to two hours

• At the end of the visit, security will take visitors back to the lobby

Conduct and attire

• Visitors shall refrain from speech or actions that disrupts patients' peace and well-being.

• Alcoholic beverages and other inappropriate substances shall not be brought into the hospital.

• All visitors must be fully clothed when in the facility. Visitors in attire inappropriate for the facility may be asked to leave.

• Visitors who may have a cold, fever, or other contagions are asked to postpone their visit.

• Visitors and patients are permitted to have consensual physical contact such as:

• Hugging

• Hand shoulder contact

• Holding hands

• Other forms of consensual contact are not permitted, such as:

• Kissing

• Sitting on each other’s lap, or

• Socially inappropriate consensual physical contact

Limitations to visiting

UF Health Psychiatric Hospital reserves the rights to exclude visitors:

• Based on safety concerns

• A physician order accompanied by signed Restriction of Communication form

• If a visitor does not follow visitation guidelines

Former patients are not permitted to visit until 30 days after their discharge. This helps maintain a therapeutic environment for all patients.

Children under the age of 18 are not permitted on the psychiatric units. Arrangements can be made to visit off the unit if:

• The patient condition permits.

• Children are attending family meetings

Visitor check-in

• The lobby receptionist will verify that a visitor is on an approved list for a specific patient. This list is created by the patient, parent and/or guardian during the admission process.

• After admission, the social worker or case manager can add to this list.

• If a visitor is not on the approved list, the lobby receptionist will call the patient’s nurse. The nurse will check the unit's approved list and if the patient would like to add the visitor to their list.

• After approval, visitors must read the confidentiality statement and sign in.

Visitor badges

• All visitors must have an appropriate visitor badge.

• The hospital receptionist will issue a color-coded badge to the visitor. Visitors must return the color-coded badge to the hospital receptionist when they leave. The color indicates where a visitor may access:

• Yellow: Any meetings in a conference room. Yellow badges are not permitted on the nursing units.

• Pink: Entry into Intake. Pink badges are not permitted on the nursing units.

• Green: Entry into locked unit.

Visits by clergy

We encourage the clergy to visit patients. Clergy may visit outside visiting hours. They are nor restricted when the patient has other visitors.

Visiting clergy shall respect:

• The patient’s rights

• The physical limitations of the patients

• The treatment plan prescribed by the attending physician, and

• The hospital setting

For Patients

What to expect from treatment

A patient admitted for inpatient treatment can expect to be an active part of the daily unit schedule. At UF Health Psychiatric Hospital, patients will be involved in group-based therapies.

Groups may focus on medication education, learning new ways to deal with feelings, recovery, and more. Patients will meet with their assigned social worker to begin creating their treatment plan quickly following admission. The social worker/case manager will be the primary contact for communication about treatment with family and support persons. Patients may participate in family sessions as part of their treatment. Success is best achieved with support. Although patients may receive some individual therapy, it is not the primary focus during an inpatient stay.

Other therapies a patient will receive are recreation therapies, which include a wide array of therapeutic modalities to help them explore the use of recreational activities to cope with feelings and behaviors. A registered dietitian is also available to meet with patients individually as needed.

Group psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is provided daily by a social worker or mental health therapist. During these groups, a patient may learn functional skills development, illness management or how to process feelings.

Treatment information is private. We provide all admitted patients with a patient ID number, which is one of the ways we identify a patient under our care. It will be important for family and support persons to have this number available anytime they wish to speak to staff. You can read more about the steps we take to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act, or HIPAA, in the privacy information documents provided at admission.

How will the psychiatrist be involved in treatment?

Patients are assigned a psychiatrist upon admission. The psychiatrist, together with a team of staff, will be working with the patient to ensure their individual needs are met. Medication is commonly used by the doctors in addition to the various therapies offered. Research indicates that therapy and medication are very effective treatments when used together. A patient will meet with the psychiatrist daily while in our care.

Other medical care may be provided as needed during treatment and ordered by the attending psychiatrist. Nursing care is available 24/7, and we have a physician in the building 24/7 every day of the year.

How long is a typical stay in the hospital?

The length of a hospital stay is determined by a patient’s progress in treatment, individual needs and the patient’s own motivation. Discharge planning starts at admission and the patient and their treatment team will review progress daily. Discharge depends on participation level and treatment plan progress. Most patients are discharged in less than one week. Because of the possible dangers to a patient or others from leaving treatment too soon, there is a process in place for requesting to leave treatment early, which is called “discharged against medical advice.” If a patient chooses this option, the treatment team will discuss the risks and benefits of leaving treatment early. There is the possibility that some insurance carriers may deny payment for a hospital stay should a patient choose to leave treatment against medical advice. UF Health Psychiatric Hospital also has the right to initiate the Baker Act on a patient when their safety or someone else’s safety is at risk. The Baker Act allows us to retain a patient in treatment and report to the courts the reasons for doing so. For more Information about the Baker Act, please visit the Florida Department of Children & Families website.

Does UF Health Psychiatric Hospital provide schooling?

Since the average length of stay is under a week, we do not have traditional school for children and adolescents. We know education is important and do not want a child or adolescent to fall behind on their scholastic pursuits, so we ask that the family communicate with the school and obtain homework.

Our team of mental health technicians and nurses will do their best to ensure a student stays on top of their homework to try to minimize the impact of an acute stay on scholastic performance.

What items can an admitted patient have at the hospital while in treatment?

For safety reasons, the items patients may bring with them are limited.

• Patients will only need three changes of clothing. We offer the ability to wash clothes on each unit.

• Food and beverages are provided as well as all toiletry items, so there is no need to have money.

• We are a smoke-free facility, so we offer patches and other smoking cessation items during treatment. Patients are not allowed cigarettes or vapes, as we do not have the ability to store these items and they will be sent home with family and/or support persons.

We ask that patients leave all valuables at home. UF Health Psychiatric Hospital will not reimburse for lost valuables.

• Items left unclaimed after 30 days beyond discharge will be donated to a clothing closet.

What can a patient expect when they are ready to leave?

It is important for a patient to continue to attend treatment after being discharged from UF Health Psychiatric Hospital. Inpatient treatment is only the first step. An assigned social worker/case manager will assist the patient in creating a discharge plan and any aftercare appointments prior to their discharge.

We do not arrange housing or disability assistance. This is something that is done after discharge with the help of community mental health providers. It is important that the patient keep all follow-up appointments so medications and therapy can continue.

UF Health Psychiatric Hospital psychiatrists only write a 30-day prescription for medications at discharge, so it is vital to attend all follow-up appointments.

Do I have access to a telephone?

Phones are available on every unit for the patients to use. The right to communicate or receive visitors is never restricted as punishment. All patients have the right, despite any possible phone restrictions, to:

• Report an alleged abuse

• Contact and receive communication from their attorney

• Call identified clergy